God of healing and wholeness, bless this dear reader with whatever he or she needs today. In Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
PRAYER REQUEST: A young man, Josue "Josh" Campos, son of a UM pastor, has asked prayer from us. He is suffering from back pain and has discovered that it is caused by a herniated disk and a "mass" that is growing in the same area. We put Josh in God's hands and ask that God heal him and give him comfort.
Yesterday we spoke of our being invited into a relationship with and by God. Once in, it is not a position of special privilege, it is the beginning of a relationship for and with others. Jesus sums this up in His instructions to the disciples in their role in things yet to be done here on the earth. It is a passage found in Matthew 25:
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' 40 And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
Our new relationship with God is one of giving and sharing, even with those we try to ignore. The passage said we "gave" food, water, and we gave of ourselves as we welcomed strangers, we gave clothing, we gave of ourselves as we visited and cared for the sick, and we gave of ourselves when we visited those in prisons. In the story told by our Lord, the "righteous" ask, "Lord, when was it" that we did all those things? The Lord replied, "just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."
Do you wonder where you stand with God? You stand in need of giving and sharing.
PRAYER: Lord, I have heard Your loving concern for the least of these among me. Let me today give of myself and to gave of what I have. I know it won't be easy and I won't always be ready or excited, but I will, with Your help. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
