3rd. May. 2022. Daily Devotion.
If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:5
When we have a cold or the flu, we are more aware of our bodies than we usually are. Symptoms such as coughs, fevers, aches, and chills cannot be ignored. Sickness makes us aware of what’s wrong, and it makes us long for healing.
When we are honest with ourselves, we can see that sin is still present in our lives. We are tempted to sin, and we often fall into it and need to ask for forgiveness. And when we think about eternal life, we imagine a future when our lives will be sin-free. But there is more. In Christ, we are already being made new!
An important truth about Christ’s death and resurrection is that by believing in God’s power to save us, we die to our old life of sin, we are baptized with Christ into his death, and we are raised with him to “live a new life” by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ death our sins have been paid for, and in his resurrection, we are led by the Spirit to live a forgiven life, a grateful life.
We are not stuck in a spiritual waiting room suffering from spiritual sickness. We are already receiving the necessary healing that allows us, in God’s strength, to resist sin and to live in gratitude, sharing God’s love with others. In Christ’s death we have died to sin, and by his resurrection we are being made new. D. MacLeod.
Lord Jesus, help me to see that your death and resurrection take my sin away and give me new life. I want to live more fully for you, knowing my sin is defeated and I am being made new. Amen.
Loving God, May this moment be to us a time of blessing, A time to pause,
to thank you for all the good things you give us, to delight in your goodness around us.
Open our hearts and minds to your presence that we may be a blessing to all whom we meet today. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. May God hold you in his love and fill you with his peace today and every day. Amen. Canterbury Cathedral prayers
God of grace, we bless you for the gift of each day; for the glory of creation, the joy of salvation and the fire of your love in our hearts. Amen. Handley Moule (1841-1920)
Father and Mother of all, through your word all creation comes to be, and you perfectly love all you have made. All life is your gift, and all creation will find final fulfilment in you. As your grace is sufficient for all, and as we rejoice that we are blessed to know it, even in part, we ask that we might be signs that you have given creation and heaven as a place for all. May your Holy Spirit bless us with grace, humility, hope, wisdom and openness, as it did your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer for Peace
Lord, we pray for the power to be gentle; the strength to be forgiving; the patience to be understanding; and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding to what we believe to be right.
May we put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to overcome hatred.
We pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence, a new world where fear shall no longer lead men to commit injustice, nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.
Help us to devote our whole life and thought and energy to the task of making peace, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfil the destiny for which we and all men were created. Amen