Devotional for Friday May 6, 2022
The word “serve” refers to being able to be useful, suitable or qualified for something. How nice it would be if all of us who follow Jesus have that gift! Being able to activate our senses and abilities, taking advantage of what God has given us to be a blessing or help to others. Sadly, many of us live clinging to material things, sunk in selfishness, envy, restlessness, without realizing that sometimes, all this is affliction, extreme weakness of the flesh, and we must wake up from that insane sleep.
Let us follow the example of the Master who said: the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. And if He, being the Son of God, preferred to be at the order of the smallest, Who are we to believe ourselves greater and above others?
May we always be vessels of honor and blessing, reaching out to others, serving in love, with a smile, with our physical strength, with our prayer, our good spirits and will; like the poor widow who threw everything she had into the offering chest, do everything with care and courage, trusting that you will get the reward from that God of love.
Written by Milagros Quintero
Translated by Nelson Baires
Morning Acts 16:1-5
1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Noon Psalm 30
1 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.
3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.
8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Evening Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Evening Prayer Guide: [E.U. Diócesis Sur-Wimauma] and [Cuba-Sandino]
This month's challenge is: Identify each character virtue of Christ and incorporate it into your own character. Spend more time with the people you love. Evaluate daily if your behavior resembles that of Jesus. Constantly ask yourself before making a decision or doing anything, what would Christ have done in my place? Study more deeply the life of Christ and ask God to help you be a better Christian.
Annual Bible reading: Ezra 9, 10, Nehemiah 1
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