Daily Devotion for January 12, 2012
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.
I'll never understand how a human being can actually play this.
Prayer for the Morning
Oh God the King eternal, who divides the day from the darkness, and has turned the shadow of death into the light of morning; I pray that this day you will incline my heart to keep your commandments, driving temptation from my mind. Guide my feet into the way of peace; that having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, I may, when the night comes, rejoice in giving you thanks for a day lived in your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer for Family and Friends
Blessed are you, loving Father, for all your gifts to me and those close to me. Blessed are you for giving us family and friends to be with us in times of joy and sorrow, to help us in days of need, and to rejoice with us in moments of celebration.
Father, I praise you for your son Jesus, who knew the happiness of family and friends, And in the love of Your Holy Spirit. Blessed are you for ever and ever.
Irish Blessing
Deep peace of the running wave to you.Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
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 81:13-14
That Israel would walk in My ways!
I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
Romans 16:17-20
Troublemakers
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Notes on the Scripture
It is an unfortunate truth in society that people can become more important by causing trouble. The most salient example is the news media. News organizations get readers and viewers from conflict. A few peaceful and beautiful events will bring eyeballs to the television news — a royal wedding, for example — but the stock in trade of news organizations is trouble, and the more sudden, dramatic, or terrible it is, the more people pay attention to them and the more money they make.
Thus arises the phenomenon of news organizations creating conflict themselves, so that they can report it, or make something appear more dramatic or important. They may blow a terrible situation completely out of proportion, to the point where the entire nation is following a little tragedy, like the murder of a child. They may twist words to make them appear outlandish or offensive when no such meaning was intended. They turn rather unexceptional people into "celebrities" just so people will listen when they report trivial details of their lives.
But the same phenomenon occurs in all aspects of life, and this includes church life. Somebody will get bored, or want more attention, and thus "cause divisions and create obstacles". Others will jump to the defense of the status quo, and, eventually, a mountain will arise from the molehill.
Probably 99% of Christian doctrine is right here in the Bible, in black and white. All one needs do to find out the important beliefs and practices of the Christian is read it, with an open heart. When we become confused or find ourselves embroiled (hopefully against our will) in one of the countless controversies the minds of men devise, the solution is right in front of us: read the words of Christ, Paul, and Peter, which sit on every Christian bookshelf. Almost always, the solution to the problem is there.
