Post by Richard on Mar 16, 2007 8:03:30 GMT -5
SAYING YES?
_________________________
James 1:22-25 (NRSV)
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing.
_________________________
Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
- James 1:22 (NRSV)
_________________________
I had just been to chapel and was walking to class when a man approached me on the sidewalk. He was carrying pamphlets and a money pouch, and I knew he wanted something from me. I prepared my ready-made defense: "How can I be sure that the money I give you will go for shelter or food?"
The man said that he was homeless and lived in the park. What I thought were pamphlets were poems. He was selling them to raise money to call attention to the plight of the homeless in our area. My mind raced back to chapel that morning. The liturgy had focused on God's command to provide food and housing for the hungry and homeless. Would I obey? Would I apply what I had heard in worship to this real-life situation? This time I was obedient, but I'm not always.
When we leave worship, the question "What am I going to do with what I heard today?" confronts us. My experience with that homeless poet stayed with me for weeks. I thought about the times when I've been reluctant and the times when I've said yes to God. I thought about the many opportunities I have to apply God's word in my life.
Prayer: O God of opportunity, open our hearts and minds to the challenges to act that your word brings to us. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Each day is a good day to act on God's word.
-- Roger L. Grimmett (Illinois, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: Those reluctant to give
_________________________
James 1:22-25 (NRSV)
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing.
_________________________
Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
- James 1:22 (NRSV)
_________________________
I had just been to chapel and was walking to class when a man approached me on the sidewalk. He was carrying pamphlets and a money pouch, and I knew he wanted something from me. I prepared my ready-made defense: "How can I be sure that the money I give you will go for shelter or food?"
The man said that he was homeless and lived in the park. What I thought were pamphlets were poems. He was selling them to raise money to call attention to the plight of the homeless in our area. My mind raced back to chapel that morning. The liturgy had focused on God's command to provide food and housing for the hungry and homeless. Would I obey? Would I apply what I had heard in worship to this real-life situation? This time I was obedient, but I'm not always.
When we leave worship, the question "What am I going to do with what I heard today?" confronts us. My experience with that homeless poet stayed with me for weeks. I thought about the times when I've been reluctant and the times when I've said yes to God. I thought about the many opportunities I have to apply God's word in my life.
Prayer: O God of opportunity, open our hearts and minds to the challenges to act that your word brings to us. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Each day is a good day to act on God's word.
-- Roger L. Grimmett (Illinois, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: Those reluctant to give