Tuesday, June 9, 2020
See the Light!
See the Beauty!
And Life will be profoundly enjoyable!
Exodus 20:15
You shall not steal.
1 Corinthians 10:24
Do not seek your own advantage, but that of others.
Words of Grace For Today
This is simple.
Do Not Do What Is Wrong.
Do not steal from others.
Do not seek your own advantage but that of others.
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..
…
except the world certainly does not work that way.
Lesson upon lesson teaches us that we need to take every advantage for ourselves and even then there will not be enough for us to enjoy life.
We must work hard, even if that means at cheating, lying, stealing, but …
but we just cannot get caught.
.
Really!?
Well, that is the world’s way, and the way our children are taught … by all those who lie, cheat, are rich, and still they do not enjoy life!
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The basic of Jesus’ story is that the world rejects generosity, and God builds God’s Kingdom on it. God is generous with forgiveness.
So can we.
God is generous in giving new chances to sinners who deserve condemnation.
So can we.
God wondrously offers life that is abundant and overflowing,
with challenges, rewards, and purpose.
Most of all God freely gives us (at great cost, God’s Son’s own life) the ability to fully enjoy life, and the freedom to live in God’s generosity that is not dependent on material things, so that we can seek other’s advantages, and trust we will have enough to enjoy life, no matter our circumstances.
Do not steal only starts with not taking other’s property.
It is also not taking one’s reputation by lying about them. (Further, Martin Luther referred to bearing false witness as worse than just stealing one’s reputation, it is to actually murder that person because they are left with such a reduced possibility of living well. – so to not steal one’s reputation is to not murder.)
It is also not taking other’s opportunities.
…
Most of all it is to create opportunities for others, even if it costs us greatly.
The opportunities we strive to create for others is for them to learn that life is not dependent on things, but on trusting God’s Love and Grace.
To do that we need to trust that what truly has value for us in life is always free.
It comes down to the mysteries that God provides for us to live in awe of: beauty, truth, hope beyond hope, genuine love, grace, and forgiveness.
Look to see those beauties all around us each day and we will learn to enjoy life, one minute at a time.