WATCHWORD:
31 But when I, the Messiah, shall come in my glory, and all the angels with me, then I shall sit upon my throne of glory.32 And all the nations shall be gathered before me. And I will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and place the sheep at my right hand, and the goats at my left.
34 Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; 36 naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.
37 Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? 38 Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’
40 And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to the least of these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:31-40
Meditation:
Are We Lost? Part 2
I don’t believe that spiritual discernment is a single thing, an isolated act, or a change in broad behavior. Or even a change of heart, or a change of mind. Spiritual discernment is all of those things, and so much more.
In some ways, spiritual discernment is a bit like a learning process. When you know that you should do something, and you do it, you realize that you know more, that you understand more fully a situation, or a person, or yourself, or where the Lord is leading you. Too often, I believe, that if we were to examine closely, where our spiritual walk was not a central focus of our belief, we would find that it might track back to something that we should have done, but failed, because, at the time, there didn’t seem to be an immediate call for our involvement.
Think back over the years. Was there ever a time when there was a friend, relative, in the hospital, and the suggestion was made to go visit? Deep inside, you resisted that, and instead suggested we sent a “nice card”. Or maybe, you’re asked to go the extra mile, and you demurred.
So, now you have no insight or discernment, and, so, those times when action was called for, you passed, because you were spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-controlled. It is a true and dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more, when your Holy Spirit is nudging along.
But, instead, you went the extra mile, you made the visit and spent time with your friend; you prepared that meal to take to someone; you reached out, you made that call, you were a Prayer Warrior; and something happened within you that you could not put your finger on, could not explain, yet you know something that you didn’t know before. Maybe about yourself, maybe something between you and your Lord, something new. Maybe you became God’s farmer, and you planted seeds, or you turned the other cheek, or became that Samaritan. Maybe “you did it to the least of these my brothers, you were doing it to me!” and your eyes were open and you saw that it was your Lord.
Yes, the many faces of spiritual discernment, that translates into an active Christian walk.
“And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy — the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you.” Romans 12:1-2
Beware of going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. Jesus tells us, “I’m not teaching you my own thoughts, but those of God who sent me. 17 If any of you really determines to do God’s will, then you will certainly know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.” John 7:16-17
Enjoy and grow in your ride on God’s tide, this ocean is simply His purpose. Amen.
Stan
Bulletin Board:
Today the Men in Mission group meets for the first time since March 18. It will be so good to be together in the love of Jesus.
From Paul — 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16-18
Closing Prayer:
Dear Lord, I don’t know who or what will cross my path today. But I do know that You are my rock and my fortress. You are my shield and my strong tower. Help me to anchor myself to You today. Teach me how to stand strong in You and choose only Your way today. Help me walk by Your truth and not my feelings. Help me to embrace anything that comes my way as an opportunity to see You at work and as opportunity to point others to You. Amen.
