Everywhere you look there is something to do or some kind of entertainment all the time. If we're not careful, we'll fall into the trap of thinking that we've always got to be busy doing something. But Jesus invites us to be still because really, only one thing is needed.

Heavenly Father, today I set my heart and affections on You. I choose to lay down the distractions of life and put You first because You are the one thing that is needed.

Memorial of St Charles Lwanga and companions

2 Timothy 2:8-15

Ps 25:2-5ab, 8-9, 10+14

M ark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" (29) Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; (30) and 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.' (31) The second is this,`You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (32) And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; (33) and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (34) And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question.

Meditation by Barbara Dilly

T he lessons today ask us to remember the martyrs Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions. Paul, who was also martyred, reminds us that even though we may often be chained in sharing or living out the Gospel, the word of God is not chained.  Though we may often suffer for our work in the faith, our suffering is not in vain.  For this reason, we can give thanks to those who have suffered and died for their faith and we can also give thanks for our own suffering for the faith.

As I reflect on these lessons, I think that a very big part of what it means to share the Gospel is not just about bringing the word of God to those who haven’t heard it. That is important, but encouraging those who already know of God’s work in the world to persevere in their faith and to stay focused on truth is also important and often a lot harder to do.  Sometimes it is just easier to start a new mission congregation in a developing country than it is to keep a 100 year old congregation together in America’s heartland. Sometimes those older congregations can lose sight of what is really important and begin arguing with each other over little things. These disputes are a kind of unfaithfulness. And being in the midst of it and trying to focus on what is really important can feel like being held in chains. It can bring suffering.

So what is important? Jesus tells us that it is love. The Psalmist tells us that it is truth, humility, kindness, and constancy in keeping the commandments.  Paul says it is remaining upright and acceptable to God.  That can make martyrs of us all if we take it seriously. There isn’t one day that goes by where we are not challenged to deny the power of the Gospel. There isn’t one day where we don’t back off in some way from the full glory of living out our faith by demonstrating less than what God expects from us in truth, humility, kindness, constancy, and love.

So Paul’s words to us today are to encourage us to stay the course, to persevere.  We remember his struggles and those of all the martyrs who remained faithful, even to death.  Will we follow them to the extent that we will be imprisoned and die for our faith? Probably not.  We’re not all called to be martyrs.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t hear the words of Jesus and apply all of our understanding and strength to loving the Lord, our neighbors, and ourselves at the levels God expects from us. And like Paul and Timothy, we are all called to more fully demonstrate truth, humility, kindness, constancy and love to those around us, especially in our own congregations, where we work, and in our neighborhoods and our families. So today I pray that all of us will see the challenges of our faith in our day to day lives right where we are and persevere where the going gets rough.

Supplementary Reading

One Thing is Needed

But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" - Luke 10:42

In today's world, most people find that life is full. We have over 500 channels on TV, an unlimited number of sites to browse on the internet, cell phones and PDA's to keep us connected 24 hours a day. Everywhere you look there is something to do or some kind of entertainment all the time. If we're not careful, we'll fall into the trap of thinking that we've always got to be busy doing something. But Jesus invites us to be still because really, only one thing is needed.

I heard somebody say one time, what if we treated our Bibles like we do our cell phones? Can you imagine people in the elevators, lobbies and shopping malls thumbing through their Bibles all day long? Can you see people reading and studying the Word while sitting in traffic and at red lights? Not that you should do that, but the point I'm making is that we need to live our lives in balance and make the Word of God a priority. Let's make sure we don't allow the distractions of life to keep us from the one thing that is needed.

Heavenly Father, today I set my heart and affections on You. I choose to lay down the distractions of life and put You first because You are the one thing that is needed. Help me keep my mind focused on You as I declare Your praises throughout the day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

For archive of previous Daily Meditation postings, please visit http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

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GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.