Ecclesiastes 12: 14 ”For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
Dear God,
I have been generally reading about my responsibilities as a follower of You, our King and Lord, and evaluating how You would want me to act toward others, all of whom are to You a precious creation. Whether they are young, poor, fatherless, widow, criminal or dirty unattractive person and so it goes. You love all, and have promised to fill me with Your love, and the Holy Spirit, as I ask for these gifts. Romans 5: 5 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Dear Jesus, I view Your life of self-denial, and am again reminded, self-denial is not just to be practiced by You our Saviour, but by everyone who calls themselves a Christian. It is such a trap to unthinkingly put my own self and interests before You and others, all of whom can be classified as neighbour. You do not play with words like we can, claiming only the people we live and work with as neighbour. Luke 10: 30 – 37 give the words of Jesus in parable and admonition, Verses 36. 37 “So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among thieves? And he said, ‘he who showed mercy on him,’ then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’”
Please forgive me for my selfishness, and strengthen me to give You all of me, in response to Your love. Romans 5: 8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Thank You for the privilege given to all, to take Your love in many different ways to the others placed in our path: even when it gets in the way of things we had planned to do, or buy.
As I read and ponder I see that You our God, plan a rich life for us, beyond what we can imagine. It comes when we have sufficient faith in You, to give ourselves and all about ourselves to You, in obedience and trust.
Amen