Author: Cindy Lee

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• Monday – Acts 17
• Tuesday – Acts 18
• Wednesday – Acts 19
• Thursday – Acts 20
• Friday – Acts 21

• The St. Paul Church family and our ministries.
• Teachers and students as they transition.
• Friends and family members battling illness.
• Those seeking to find their way.
• The United Methodist Church family.
• Our nation and our leaders.
• The Covid-19 Pandemic.

Recently a good friend sent this devotional to me. Originally penned by Paul David Trip (New Morning Mercies), I thought it was worthwhile to share.

In a world of justice gone bad, where disloyalty brings daily pain, where government is corrupt, and even faithful friends come up short; where the haves get more and the have-nots wonder why; and where it is very tempting to look over the fence at someone else’s life and wonder why so much good has fallen on him [or her], it is so good to know that you never play favorites. You lavish riches of grace on each and every one of your children. You meet every child’s every need, and you do it with unbroken faithfulness. So I will quit keeping score. I will not judge your goodness. No, I will rest in the bounty of your mercy.

I’m not sure what lines resonate with you, but for me, the lines “very tempting to look over the fence” and “I will quit keeping score.” It has been my experience that if I focus on God’s goodness, the desire to keep score or look over the fence just doesn’t matter anymore. Spend your time reflecting on the goodness of God. The rest will take care of itself.

When Saint Basil came to the monastery one day, he said to the abbot, ‘Do you have someone here who is obedient?’ The other replied, ‘They are all your servants, master, and strive for their salvation.’ But he repeated, ‘Do you have someone who is really obedient?’ Then the abbot led a brother to him, and Saint Basil used him to serve during the meal. When the meal ended, the brother brought him some water for rinsing his hands. Saint Basil said to him, ‘Come here, so I may also offer water to you.’ The brother allowed the bishop to pour the water. Then Saint Basil said to him, ‘When I enter the sanctuary, come, so that I may ordain you deacon.’ When this was done, he ordained him priest and took him with him to the bishop’s palace because of his obedience. (The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, pages 97-98).

Often when we think of humility, we think of serving others. Seldom do we associate having obedience and the ability to be served with humility. Humility is born first out of obedience. If we are first obedient, then serving or allowing others the opportunity to serve will take care of itself. Focus on obedience. If you do so, you will naturally be a servant.

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace” (Col 1:3-6a).

Paul highlights three particular traits in the Colossian believers:  Faith, Love, and Hope.  Wherever we see these traits, like Paul, we should give thanks to God.  It is noteworthy that Paul informs the reader that faith and love arise, spring out of hope (see italics).  The gospel promises a certain hope and that hope transforms.

I mention this today, because of the increased conflict, anger, and despair due to a pandemic, so that we will be reminded on the hope of heaven. Setting our hope on heaven puts everything in a proper perspective. Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan preacher, called heaven “a world of love.”  Our heavenly hope inspires us to see as God sees, to love as Jesus loves, and to know that this too shall pass.  This week, fix your gaze on God’s gift of heaven and allow His presence to saturate you with peace.