[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Thursday March 23, 2006

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions Thursday  March 23, 2006

The Daily Devotions are this week are written by Pastor Barry Ludwig. During
the season of Lent, the theme of Zion's Wednesday services (5 & 7pm) is
based upon our congregational set of values. Those values flow from the
person and name of Jesus (Justice, Energy to witness, Spiritual maturity,
Understanding the radical nature of Grace, Service to those in need). This
week we explore Spiritual Maturity.

 

2 Corinthians 8:12

"Just as you excel in everything.see that you also excel in this grace of
giving."  

 

Thought

Last year as I visited with church members as a part of our capital
campaign, I was daily amazed at their spirit of generosity. One member whom
God had entrusted with many resources said to me, "I have learned that with
material wealth comes much responsibility."  Jesus put it this way, "To whom
much has been given, much is required."  It is a sign of spiritual maturity
to recognize these two things about the time and content of our lives: 1)
These things belong to God, we are the trustees of His estate and 2) The
full realization of happiness comes in giving ourselves and God's resources
to others.

 

This all sounds tired and old in a world where we are encouraged to think
that it is every person for herself. We don't even open half of our mail
anymore because it contains more requests for money from an horizon of
non-profits whose names we cannot even pronounce. And yet, one child who
lives to adulthood because of our generosity is an act of heroism. One more
senior adult whom we visit and pull away from the inhumanity of neglect and
loneliness is an announcement to the world that the kingdom of God in Jesus
Christ is here in our midst. One more voice in defense of those destroyed by
racial cleansing or political persecution is a song of praise to a God who
loves and cares for every human being.

 

Spiritual maturity leads to powerful convictions and open generosity. May we
grow just a bit deeper in Jesus Christ this day.

 

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