Daily Devotion for January 31, 2018
embraced by Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Prayers
Scripture
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
Prayer to Bear Witness Before the World
Let all who take refuge in you rejoice, O Lord. Let us ever sing for joy. Let those who confess your name raise up their voice, filling the air with glorious noise. Spread your protection over us, mighty God, that we who love your name may exalt you before all the people of the earth. Let the quiet and the shy find their courage so that they may sing and shout to the sky, “There is one great God who rules over us all, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth is His only Son”.
May I be blessed to help the blind see your glory and the deaf hear your praise, lest they surely die. For they must be told: Every heart will find righteousness and eternal life in the holy name of Christ, and nowhere else. Make me your trumpet, make me your lighthouse; let me proclaim to the very end of the earth, that Christ is King!
Prayer for Freedom from Fear
O Lord, I beseech you to deliver me, and all of your children, from the fear of the unknown future; from fear of failure; from fear of poverty; from fear of bereavement; from fear of loneliness; from fear of sickness and pain; from fear of age; from fear of death. Help us, O Father, by your grace to love and fear only you, and fill our hearts with cheerful courage and loving trust in you; through our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
Benediction
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant; Make me perfect in every good work to do your will, working in me that which is well pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
Today’s “Remember the Bible” Question
Where is the “Great Commission” found?
The weakest saint upon his knees.
~ William Cowper (1731-1800)
1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)
Faith, Hope, and Charity [4]
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Notes on the Scripture
“Love” is a translation of the Greek word “agape” (pronounced with three syllables, uh-gahp-ay); but unfortunately, agape cannot be translated into English with very much accuracy. “Love” is about the best we can do.
he King James version used “charity” to translate agape, which is closer in some ways. But the strong association of charity with giving money to the needy makes it inaccurate, as well; in fact, earlier in the chapter Paul tells us, “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” So 1 Corinthians itself tells us that agape is something more than “charity” as we generally use the word today.
So what, exactly, does “love” mean in this context? It is an important question, for Paul calls it the greatest of all Christian virtues, and John goes so far as to say, “God is love.”
If you read through the entire chapter, Paul actually defines it, in great part. It includes patience towards others, kindness, and a lack of superior feelings or boasting — humility, in other words, in both thought and actions.
Since it is “never rude,” it is polite. Since it “never insists on its own way,” it is accommodating. It isn’t irritable. It isn’t resentful, which is a big one, for we can form resentments in myriad ways.
It never rejoices at wrongdoing. So when we find ourselves thinking or says, “it serves the son-of-a-***** right” or “he had that coming,” it should give us pause.
This might be something all of us need to work on. None of us is perfect, but Paul’s eloquent statement of the importance of Christian love is a goal which we must constantly keep in mind and work toward, every day.
