[Membersandfriends] Monday, November 15, 2004

Sun Nov 14 22:02:46 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Monday, November 15, 2004

_________________________

Help Support Our Worldwide Ministry

Published in 44 languages and 72 editions, THE UPPER ROOM is familiar to 2.5 million Christians in more than 100 countries around the world. In many areas a tattered and worn UPPER ROOM is passed from person to person for many years.  http://www.upperroom.org/fundraising/default.asp?item_id=114563&ep_id=250
_________________________

SAVED FROM VIOLENCE
_________________________

Isaiah 42:1-9 (NRSV)

Here is my servant,  whom I uphold, 
    my chosen, in whom my soul  delights; 
I have put my spirit upon him; 
    he will bring forth justice to the nations. 
He will not cry or lift up his voice, 
    or make it heard in the street; 
a bruised reed he will not break, 
    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; 
    he will faithfully bring forth justice. 
He will not grow faint or be crushed 
    until he has established justice in the earth; 
    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.  

Thus says God, the LORD, 
    who created the heavens and stretched them out, 
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it, 
who gives breath to the people upon it 
    and spirit to those who walk in it: 
I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, 
    I have taken you by the hand and kept you; 
I have given you as a covenant to the people, 
    a light to the nations,  
    to open the eyes that are blind, 
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, 
    from the prison those who sit in darkness. 

I am the LORD, that is my name; 
    my glory I give to no other, 
    nor my praise to idols. 
See, the former things have come to pass, 
    and new things I now declare; 
before they spring forth, 
    I tell you of them.

_________________________

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
- Zechariah 4:6 (NRSV)
_________________________

HE was frightened.  He was a guerrilla fighter.  He wanted to desert but was afraid he would be killed.  I could not help him, but I knew someone who could.  I offered him Jesus Christ.  He wept and accepted Christ into his heart.

Five years later, when he arrived at church, I recognized him immediately.  I listened to his story.  His conversion was complete.  He praised God for rescuing him and spoke with the assurance and authority of one who knows the word of God.  He was on his way to the country in which he had sought legal refuge, but, he said, he could not leave without visiting the person who had introduced him to Christ.

We cry out for peace and we may march to protest war's atrocities, but are we willing to become workers for the Prince of Peace?  Do we witness so that every guerrilla fighter can come to know Christ as Lord and Savior?  For every person who receives Christ, there is one fewer potential assassin, hostage-taker, or suicide bomber.  In turn, there is one son or daughter, friend or family member, who is saved from violence.

Prayer:  God, help us to speak your word.  Use us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to free our world from violence.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
How can I work for peace?

-- Janeth I. Medina D. (Valle del Cauca, Colombia)

PRAYER FOCUS: Victims of violence worldwide

_________________________

RELATED READING ...

ASHES TRANSFORMED by Tilda Norberg focuses on the events and aftermath of September 11, 2001, and witnesses to the power of God to heal even the worst tragedies. Learn more about or purchase this book online.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=105078

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

_________________________

QUESTIONS?  If you reply to this e-mail, you'll receive an automated message answering our readers' most frequently asked questions.  If your question remains unanswered, please write to us at the special "help" e-mail address you'll find in the automated message.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.upperroom.org/unsubscribe/

TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS: Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Log in, using your current e-mail address and password. Once logged in your account, click on the "Edit Personal Information" link. Edit your e-mail address and any other information, and click "Update" to complete the change.

FORGOTTEN YOUR PASSWORD? Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Click on "Forgot My Password." Enter your e-mail address, and if there is a password associated with it, the password will be e-mailed to you immediately.
_________________________

The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.