Good day dear friends.
Today is Thursday. Lots to do, where to begin? Begin with prayer.
PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank you for this day and for the things that keep us employed. Allow us to employ our time for you and for yours. Keep us steady in spite of what seeks to unseat or rock our path. We pray in the name of Jesus our Lord, our Rock and our Strength. Amen.
Here is the study guide for today. I'll share verse 11 of Matthew 5 first:
11 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." NRSV. The Message says it this way: "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable."
Thursday: Think about the times you’ve been tempted to or have spoken negatively about someone. Think now on verse 11 from Matthew 5. Why do you suppose this was so important for Jesus to include in his Sermon on the Mount.
I wish I could say I had never spoken negatively about someone. I doubt if there is a reader among us that could honestly say the same thing. We harm and maim sometimes with our words. Sometimes without thinking, sometimes quite deliberatly. Either way the harm is done. Jesus knew that as people came to know and love Him they would be attacked. My mom would say, "the closer you get to God the more the devil wants you back." And we know the devil never sleeps and finds ways to attack. Regardless of what the other person may say is driving comments or criticisms about us, the harm gets done. As much as we want thick skins to handle that, all of us who have a pulse and blood running through our veins have feelings. We get knocked down but with God's help we can get up again.
If you've said something negative about someone, please pray and ask for forgiveness and seek to build up that person. If something negative has been said against you, pray and ask for strength to continue on knowing that we need to be close to God in spite of all that may come our way.
PRAYER: God of strength, rain down that strength on us right now. We seek to be thick skinned but we need your arms lovingly around us so that we can feel You pulling us up whenever we get knocked down. Praise You, Lord! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day! Build up!
Blessings!
e.v.
