259 people in our community are currently praying with you.

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.

Prayer at Daybreak (by Archimandrite Sophronios)

O  Lord Eternal and Creator of all things, who with your unknowable goodness called me to this life; I have no life, no light, no joy or wisdom, no strength except in you, O God. I entreat you, teach me to pray aright. Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit. Bless this day which you give to me, your unworthy servant.

By the power of your blessing enable me, throughout this day, to speak and act to your glory with a pure spirit, with humility, patience, love, gentleness, peace, courage and wisdom. Let me be always aware of your presence. By the power of your love, grant me to hold fast to that which is good. Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul; from every impulse unpleasing in your sight and hurtful to my fellow man, my brothers and sisters.

This in Christ’s name, I pray,

Prayer for Strength

Holy Lord God, I truly want to carry your truth into the world as you have commanded us to do, and to live every moment of my life in your Holy Spirit. But sometimes I feel weak and discouraged, like it is too much for me.

Let me always remember your words, that we should put on your armor and be strong, not in our own power, but in the strength of your might. Help me to stop calling on my own power and learn to call upon the power of your Spirit, that dwells always within me and loves me, and waits only to be called. For I am weak, but your strength knows no limit, and it is mine to have in your service. Embolden and empower me to fight evil wherever I may find it, and to tell the world of your grace in Christ Jesus.

Mason Barge 1-25-14

Benediction

May the Passion of Christ be ever in my heart. May your law and your goodness guide my every thought, O Lord. And may the power of your Holy Spirit flow through my words and my actions today, and always.

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.

Psalm 51:15-17 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (ESV)

therwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!

What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Notes on the Scripture

The Resurrection of the Dead [3]

If asked, most people would not be able to guess the origin the phrase ”eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Shakespeare? The gladiators? It actually comes from the Old Testament; it appears repeatedly in both Isaiah (e.g. Isaiah 22:13) and Ecclesiastes (e.g. Ecclesiastes 8:15).

The phrase is always fatalistic in popular literature. Taken at face value, it sounds like the esprit of soldiers about to go into battle, who intend to enjoy themselves before they die.

But the phrase is never used as such in the Bible. In Isaiah, it is used ironically, because it describes those who will die in the siege of Jerusalem, about to suffer their long-awaited destruction for the sins of Israel. In the more poetic Ecclesiastes, it is part of the rich and beautiful poem about the vanity of earthly existence. And here, Paul depicts it as an attitude that the Christian has outgrown, which has been rendered foolish by the resurrection of Christ.

For, tomorrow we do not die. Death has become not the end, but only a time of change, the prequel to resurrection. The words either make no sense to us, or at least, don’t mean what they once did. There is nothing in Christian doctrine that prevents us from enjoying God’s good bounty. A good meal, good company, a glass of wine if we drink it, the laughter and good feeling that come from sharing a meal with friends . . . . The Bible tells us that we should eat with other Christians in fellowship and mutual love of God. It is the “for tomorrow we die” part that no longer compels us.

Paul seems to have the Greco-Roman tendency to unrestrained and even Bacchanalian feasts in mind when he uses the phrase. It is the conduct of those who have nothing to look forward to, except the vain pursuit of pleasure; they have no reason not to do whatever they want, for every day is simply one step closer to decay and annihilation. But we, who know the resurrection and have all faith, can avoid bad company and disgraceful behavior; we have awoken from our drunken stupor, and we can greet each new day with the eagerness and hope born of faith in Christ's power and love.

Daily Inspiration

“Illumination”

Current Memory Verse     Remember the Bible

Print Today’s Devotion