| Many a teacher and preacher warn that if one desires to live a devout life, criticism and derision follow. The thought is that friends will warn or pressure the follower of Christ about the unhappy consequences of their choice to pursue God. This might be the case in some parts of the globe where Christian morals and ethics are not practiced by the majority. In our culture, I’m not sure that is the case. Regardless if one is a follower of Christ or not, the morality of the Gospel is still valued by the masses where love, kindness, and goodness are valued over their opposites. To some degree, those Gospel attributes still lace our society. Will they be here in future decades, I don’t know—I hope so—but that is a different debate. For today, be it a believer or a non-believer, those attributes are still valued. If this is true, then the temptation for the believer is not persecution where one is faced with steep opposition to a devout life. The greater temptation is stagnation. It is the slow erosion of faith by complacency. Faith is always fluid. It should grow by a constant openness to God’s Spirit yielding the nature of Christ. What we face are not tumultuous waves of persecution but calmer waters that create an environment for drift. In the middle of the storm, the captain and crew are fully engaged. They stay vigilant and ready; however, in the still waters, it is easier to skip a few steps or fall asleep at the wheel. Over time, the drift is so great one becomes lost. Therefore, feed your faith. Give yourself to a lifestyle of discipline. Forming the nature of Christ in oneself is a lifetime process. Pray for God’s Spirit to lead you, both in times of difficulty and in times of ease.  This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 2 Corinthians 6 *Tuesday – 2 Corinthians 7 *Wednesday – 2 Corinthians 8 *Thursday – 2 Corinthians 9 *Friday – 2 Corinthians 10 Prayer Requests: -Pray for guidance, protection, strength, courage, and faith. -Our unwillingly absent members. -Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. -Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. -Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. -Family restoration through forgiveness. -Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC. |
| “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6 |