Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
March 31, 2022
Read Mark 10:17-22
17 As Jesus continued down the road, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?” 18 Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God. 19 You know the commandments: Don’t commit murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Don’t cheat. Honor your father and mother.” 20 “Teacher,” he responded, “I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” 22 But the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions.
Good Morning, Stand Up and Bless the Lord!
One of the most enduring qualities of people is the willingness to share and help others in need. I believe that the strength of America lies in the small towns and communities that dot the countryside. I was born with a love of reading about the history of our country. When reading the accounts of the early settlers and the westward expansion, I marvel at the fearlessness and the generosity of those people. Without the benefit of personal accounts found in books and movies, it’s hard to imagine all that they encountered each day.
Within these accounts, there is a theme that ties so many of their stories together. These people had a burning desire to live as free people. At the same time, they were willing to give the shirt off their backs to help someone else along the way. For those with purely selfish motives, we often read of their doom because no one was able to conquer this quest on their own. The spirit of these pioneers was undaunted. For each challenge, they paused, picked up the pieces, and took the next step.
You might be asking yourself if all these brave souls were Christians. I do not know if all were, but history tells us that many were seeking religious freedom in this great land of opportunity. As they moved west, churches also began to dot the landscape. Without God by their side, I believe that they would have been unable to continue. Their journeys were bound together with the love that comes from God as they who had little shared openly with those in need. When help was needed, they stopped and gave of themselves to ease someone else’s burden. Blessings were sown into their hearts and into the land across which they traveled.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. Our ancestors knew Your love in a special way. Help us to love and share what we have with others. Draw us together as friends and neighbors in Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Today I will share my blessings with someone in my community.
Share and be blessed! Pastor Liz
Thank you Liz. As I read this it reminded me of back when there were slaves toiling in the fields doing things like picking cotton, for no wages, merely to survive because they were owned. They sang hymns to the Lord praising him. So many never lost faith. It’s admirable!!!