"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15 (NRSV)
Prodigal Thoughts: So, why a photo of a cup of coffee? Well, I could use a steamy cup of wake-up juice right now. The cup/mug is a vehicle to transport the goodness from the coffee pot to the consumer. In my opinion, as long as the cup is clean, I’m not to concerned with what the outside looks like. The verse is saying sort of the same thing. It is up to us to do what we can to allow the presence of God in our lives to do the cleansing and sanitizing (or sanctifying in this case). Then it is up to us to take the goodness (the word of truth=gospel of Jesus) to others. He is not so concerned about our outer appearance because He looks at the heart. Anyone can look at another and make assumptions, but God knows the condition of our hearts. I remember a fella that always drank his coffee out of the same cup. That cup was one that a close relative had given him and he had owned it for decades while he was in prison and when he was released, he took it with him. To look at the cup, it was old and stained and didn’t look very clean, but he washed it daily. Honestly, it was very valuable in his eyes. Aren’t we a bit like that stained coffee cup? The older I get, the more I realize that I carry the stains of my past, but, praise God Almighty, He can wash away those stains and make us new again. The outside may not change much, but the inside (where God looks anyway) can be radically changed. What if we carried the stains of holiness and right-living? The stains of a life lived after the example of Jesus? After all, we are God’s children and He values us above all creation. Would you take the risk and let Him cleanse you? Would you be willing to be a vehicle, a vessel used by God to share the hope of Jesus Christ?
Prayer for today: Papa, we thank You for today and the many blessings and mercies that are new today. Many of us have heavy hearts of loved ones that have left this earth. Many of us are trying to deal with the chaos and strife around us that often times seems too much to bear. I know that You can (and will) take our burdens and replace them with peace and compassion to see the situation through Your eyes. Will You clean us up and make us new again? Will You give us new life and hope that brings us back to life? Not only for our own sake, but so that we can share that hope with others? Oh, Father, we thank You again for loving us where we are. We love You, Daddy. Amen.
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God’s grace on you…
Prodigal Mike~
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Prodigal Mike ~Mike
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