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The livelihood of heroes
Monday, March 6, 2017
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord … Jesus said, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”
– From Psalm 19 and Matthew 9
A few short years later, Jesus’ brother James wrote, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
A few long centuries before Jesus, Micah wrote, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Words, words, words. In My Fair Lady, Eliza shouts at Freddy, “I’m so sick of words! Is that all you blighters can do? Don’t talk of stars, burning above. If you’re in love, show me!”
Freddy is stunned. The Pharisees were stunned. The Jews were stunned. God calls out, “Show me!”
To an adoring but skeptical public, Thomas Edison promised one New York City street full of electric light. In the 1940 biopic Edison, The Man he was given six months to accomplish this. His words meant nothing. The accomplishments of his hardworking, creative team meant everything. They switched the lights on September 4, 1882.
We can’t live without our words. The words of Micah, and Jesus, and James guide us into righteous, loving deeds. As the day begins, I know what God is looking for. And as the day ends, my “examen” looks at deeds, done and undone.
Get up and get going. Early to bed, and early to rise. Wake up and smell the roses. “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest … and poverty will come upon you like a thief, and scarcity like an armed man” (Proverbs 6 and 24). Clever words, wise words, words to live by. Practice what you preach. Do unto others what you’d have them do for you. Look out for smooth talkers.
Bumper Sticker Betty is having a field day! We can cheapen Jesus’ words so quickly with clichés. But for centuries Matthew 25 has guided countless heroes around the world, who find ways to give instead of take, and live more for others than for themselves. We can join that cloud of witnesses any day we want.
Lord, I think of the Kansas man shot in the chest last week when he protected others who were being attacked. Later he expressed no regrets. Perhaps he has the habit of helping, and this was one more moment in a lifetime of loving. Jesus, that sounds like what you want for all of us. You led the way. You lead us now. Let me keep my eyes on you.
http://www.davesandel.net/category/lent-easter-devotions-2017/
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1561
