Devotional 3-11-09

God of One and God of Many

“Which commandment is the first of all?...”You shall love the Lord your god with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 12:28, 30-31

Conversion to God means simultaneous conversion to the other persons who live with you on this earth. The farmer, the worker, the student, the prisoner, the sick, the wealthy, the poor, the black man, the white man, the weak, the strong, the oppressed, and the oppressor, the patient, the healer, the tortured, the torturer, the boss, the flunky, not only are they people like you, but they are also called to make themselves heard and to give God a chance to be the God of all. Thus compassion removes pretensions, just as it removes false modesty. It invites you to understand everything, to see yourself in the light of God and to joyfully tell everyone you meet that there is no reason to fear; the land is free to be cultivated.

Your greatest commandments, dear God, are loving you and loving our neighbor. Make them a part of our everyday lives. Fill us with compassion, understanding and the trust that you are with us no matter where we are and what we are doing and that we are blessed by your grace. Amen.

Amy Inghram

Mission Prayer and Response:

March 11: Education is a blessing. Give $1.00 for each High School Senior in your home.
March 8-14: We celebrate Ebenezer Community Outreach Center in Huntington, Celes Sheffield, Executive Director.
They minister through their pre-school program, Youth Energized for Success; Family enrichment Center, Baby Bassinette, clothing closet, School supply programs, Christmas Angel program the Idus Jones Scholarship Program (awarded to a high school senior) $-H and Girls Scouts