Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Today’s text

1 John 3:23-24

“And this is the commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.”

Prayer

You didn’t make us to think or suppose, Blessed Assurance, but to be certain, clear and firm. Your love is more certain than the fresh light of morning. Your presence is dependable as the air that moves in and from my lungs, surrounding and filling me with joy at being alive and here and now.

The marks of your abiding are unmistakable too.

You awaken our senses to the love we have for your gracious face, a love you birth in our souls and extravert into our lives by loving us. You turn our heads to what trust we have in your eternally-constant loving that we may be certain, clear and firm.

Despite the uncertainties of our souls, we see love and faith stirring in us, signs of your gracious presence, and we know: You abide, Holy One, here in us. We are not forsaken, bereft or abandoned. We are not those who think you are near and suppose that you are gracious and forgiving.

We know. The love that bubbles from depth of soul, and our faith, however faltering, make it clear: You are here, and the signs of you holy labor are written in the flesh of our hearts.

Move us to abide in your abiding that we may keep your life-giving commands. Lift our hearts beyond the suppositions of our wavering hearts that we live in the certainty only you can give. Amen.

Pr. David L. Miller