Image via WikipediaOne of the many things that the sport of football has taught us is; that if a team is in trouble, it needs to get down to the basics. Well what are the basics of human life. let us take a look at what one famous person has said:
(1 Chronicles 29: 10-15)"There in front of the whole assembly King David praised the Lord. He said 'Lord God of our ancestor Jacob, may you be praised forever and ever! You are great and powerful, glorious, splendid, and majestic. Everything in heaven and earth is yours and you are king, supreme ruler over all. All riches and wealth come from you, you rule everything by your strength and power: and you are able to make anyone great and strong. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and we praise your glorious name.
"Yet my people and I cannot really give you anything, because everything is a gift from you, and we have only given back what is yours already. You know, O Lord, that we pass through life like exiles and strangers, as our ancestors did. Our days are like passing shadows and we cannot escape death.'"
What aspects of this prayer are useful today?
Where do you place your hope?
Introduction
Before working on the major parts of this guidance, take a little time quietly to read and reflect on the brief quotations below. One may encourage you, one may challenge you, another you may want too question. But let them speak to your sense of self-hood in Christian living at this time. Our calling is both a cross, and a joy.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. (Eleanor Roosevelt)
Who can say more than this rich praise, that you alone are you? (William Shakespere)
Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. (Luke 10:41)
What is Jesus' point?
Bu to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. (John 1:12)
What does believing mean to you?
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies. (2 Corinthians 4:8--10)
How can these verses help you cope with your present difficulties and anxieties?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The way we live, the things we say, the attitudes we entertain, the lifestyle we adopt, the enterprises in which we engage are all continuously producing either positive or negative results in society. Far too many people assume they can adopt a neutral stance. They feel they can be noncommittal. They try to remain detached, uninvolved with the trauma, turmoil and tension of their times.
Again and again Jesus pointed out that this was impossible. "Either you are for me, or against me," He said. "You cannot serve two masters at once. Either you hate one and love the other or vice-versa...."
We live in an atmosphere of antagonism, and environment of enmity. Yet amid such adversity Christ calls us to produce peace.
The peace is love, quietly, strongly, persistently meeting every onslaught against it with good will. It is that inner attitude of tranquility and tolerance in the face of angry attacks. It is the willingness to accept the assaults of others even at the price of personal humiliation. It implies that even though my enemies and detractors may be at war with me, I can be at peace with them.
(From Salt for Society by Philip Keller)
How do you exhibit your faith? Do you hurry out the door after church on Sundays? Or do you take the time to greet and listen to the concerns of others? Next Sunday, stay and listen. Remember that listening begins to help those in need.
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