August 31: My Joy...Your Joy
If one views today's reading in light of the circumstances of the people in New Orleans, it takes on a whole new meaning. Imagine if we were the ones who had lost everything we owned, and it doesn't seem likely that there will even be a place to rebuild or start over in the near future. Would we still be so rightly related to Jesus, that our joy would be full because His joy remained in us? Would we be so used to fixing our eyes upon Jesus that the horrible cares of the world that face the victims of Katrina would not choke out the Word of God in our hearts?
But now imagine the impact that a person so filled with God's radiance would have in the sea of hopeless that permeates South Louisiana. Although we, too, would have to be involved in the mundane tasks of survival, the people with whom we made casual contact couldn't help but feel the refreshing breeze of hope. Without even realizing it, conversations in the water line, at the shelter, during the rescue efforts, or at the food lines would all bring encouragement to the strangers we encountered during our day. If we were filled with the Holy Spirit before this crisis, we would live out what Chambers wrote when he said, "the life that is rightly related to God is as natural as breathing wherever it goes."
Jesus, please help us feel a responsibility, not only to ourselves, but to the world around us, to work diligently to maintain a right relationship with You. I don't want to be just an infantryman in Your army, but I want to be a Green Beret or a Navy Seal, one who is well-trained and physically and emotionally fit for difficult service. If the growing trend of natural and man-made disaster continues, it is even more imperative that we be ready before the disaster strikes! I especially pray for the children of my heart, that you will help them be spiritually mature beyond their years. Although they are all highly intelligent, please keep them from "hindering this joy by the captious irritation of thinking out circumstances." May we all be Your sheep who follow only Your voice.
But now imagine the impact that a person so filled with God's radiance would have in the sea of hopeless that permeates South Louisiana. Although we, too, would have to be involved in the mundane tasks of survival, the people with whom we made casual contact couldn't help but feel the refreshing breeze of hope. Without even realizing it, conversations in the water line, at the shelter, during the rescue efforts, or at the food lines would all bring encouragement to the strangers we encountered during our day. If we were filled with the Holy Spirit before this crisis, we would live out what Chambers wrote when he said, "the life that is rightly related to God is as natural as breathing wherever it goes."
Jesus, please help us feel a responsibility, not only to ourselves, but to the world around us, to work diligently to maintain a right relationship with You. I don't want to be just an infantryman in Your army, but I want to be a Green Beret or a Navy Seal, one who is well-trained and physically and emotionally fit for difficult service. If the growing trend of natural and man-made disaster continues, it is even more imperative that we be ready before the disaster strikes! I especially pray for the children of my heart, that you will help them be spiritually mature beyond their years. Although they are all highly intelligent, please keep them from "hindering this joy by the captious irritation of thinking out circumstances." May we all be Your sheep who follow only Your voice.
posted by Jane at 5:12 AM
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