Today’s text
3 John 1:6b-7
“You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; for they began their journey for the sake of Christ; accepting no support from non-believers.”
Prayer
What can we possibly do that is worthy of you, Gracious One? What work of hand or heart qualifies? You are ever more, beyond reach of our humanity. Our thoughts are always sullied by sin, and our finest deeds are double-minded. They do not measure against the single-hearted holiness that is full and complete in all that you do and are.
You are love, and all that you do is love, full-hearted, undiluted, undivided, totally given in grace to such as us. You extend the hospitality of your own life, inviting us to come and rest, abide and know that you desire to share all that you have and are with us, all love, all forgiveness, all mercy, all wisdom, all justice, all compassion, all eternity, all.
You invite us into your own being, which is love itself, where we know, finally that we have arrived home, our final destination. There, you transform us, mind and soul, that we might become the great generosity you are, extending that hospitality of love and life we find in you.
Just so, your life shines in our inhospitable world, fulfilling your holy desire to be all in all. May it come soon, My Lord, for that will mean the salvation of all has arrived. Until then, may we reveal its coming in deeds of grace and hospitality that your joy and ours may be complete. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
http://prayingthemystery.blogspot.com/
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Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Today’s text
3 John 1:5-6a
“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends; even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church.”
Prayer
I give you thanks, Gracious One, for words of gratitude about your beloved. You privilege me to live among a community of your saints, a favor I value too little. Forgive me for dishonoring and discounting this gift that surrounds me day to day.
You allow me to hear words of appreciation and gratitude for your saints. The words often surprise, expressing joy and praise for souls I had disregarded or discounted, sometimes knowingly, sometimes not.
The words and laughter of gratitude for these souls startles me into repentance. They undermine my assumptions and quick conclusions about those whose beauty, truth and faithfulness I refused to see because I was so sure that I understood. I could not see because I was so certain that their weakness or fault defined them.
Just so, I missed seeing you alive in their flesh, stirring their struggle to be that which you would bring to life in them. Others see what I did not. And you used their words to reveal my cold stony heart and to turn me from the way of death. Thank you.
Give me a heart slow to judge and eyes eager to see and celebrate the beauty and faithfulness of your children, especially those who are difficult for me. Let me peaceably and faithfully do for others the work you have appointed to me. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
3 John 1:5-6a
“Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends; even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church.”
Prayer
I give you thanks, Gracious One, for words of gratitude about your beloved. You privilege me to live among a community of your saints, a favor I value too little. Forgive me for dishonoring and discounting this gift that surrounds me day to day.
You allow me to hear words of appreciation and gratitude for your saints. The words often surprise, expressing joy and praise for souls I had disregarded or discounted, sometimes knowingly, sometimes not.
The words and laughter of gratitude for these souls startles me into repentance. They undermine my assumptions and quick conclusions about those whose beauty, truth and faithfulness I refused to see because I was so sure that I understood. I could not see because I was so certain that their weakness or fault defined them.
Just so, I missed seeing you alive in their flesh, stirring their struggle to be that which you would bring to life in them. Others see what I did not. And you used their words to reveal my cold stony heart and to turn me from the way of death. Thank you.
Give me a heart slow to judge and eyes eager to see and celebrate the beauty and faithfulness of your children, especially those who are difficult for me. Let me peaceably and faithfully do for others the work you have appointed to me. Amen.
Pr. David L. Miller
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