Tuesday 21 January 2014

Tuesday - surrounded by living faith

God, give me the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed.  The courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.   In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen.    (Reinhold Niebuhr)

            Read James 2: 19-26

Faith.  This is  a word that we don't use very often these days.   Faith is usually thought of as two things.  First is  our faith or belief.   Second,  faith is sometimes  used to  define  one's  religion and denomination.   The faith James writes about is the belief  we have  in God.   James's  faith is  how  we take the love of God and  live  that faith in our everyday lives.   
In the scripture reading today,   James gives two examples of Old Testament people who did not separate their faith from their lives.  Why do you think James chose Abraham and Rahab as examples?    Perhaps it was  when they were  tested,  both Abraham and Rahab depended upon God  rather than themselves.  Rahab is known in the Old Testament for her repentance and relying on God.  Abraham is known for giving his life to God to journey into unknown territories and to sacrifice his son.  Wow.
Today,  how will we live our life  surrounded by our faith?   
Great God, living one day at a time and  enjoying one moment at a time.  Help me to   accept hardship as a pathway to peace,  taking as Jesus did,  this sinful world as it is  not as I would have it.  Trusting that You will make all things right,  if I surrender to Your will so that I may be reasonably happy in this life  and supremely happy with You forever in the next.   Amen.    (second verse to the Serenity Prayer.  Reinhold Niebuhr)

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