Stan HONDA Diariocritico de Venezuela

Scripture for Today: Romans 13:8 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the Law.”

Today is call, “Black Friday,” although the term now encompasses a whole season!  It signals the unofficial start of Christmas shopping. The term in the 1950’s referred to all the workers calling in sick the day after Thanksgiving.  In the 1960’s it was used by policemen in Philadelphia to describe the mass of shoppers and the resulting congestion.  The term has now come to mean retailers finally pulling out of the red ink and into the black on their balance sheets.

Today’s verse talks about a debt that belongs to every believer.  Unlike retailers on Black Friday, we will never pull out of the red ink and into the black on this debt.  The debt of love is never completely paid.  Perfectly loving others completely fulfills the Law.  This is because all of the Law is summed up in loving one’s neighbor as one’s self (verse 9).  But there is only One who has been able to fulfill the Law with a perfect love and that is Jesus.

I cannot drum up love for some people, even during the feel-good holidays.  There are times I feel like a hypocrite celebrating peace and love when harboring an unforgiving spirit.  He knows and He sees my heart.  And He also offers His love, made available to me by His Spirit.  His filling and control helps me to show love even to that hard-to-love person.  I may not feel warm and fuzzy but showing love is not simply a feeling.  It is serving and giving and honestly wanting the best for him.

Lord, fill my heart with Your love today.

Scripture for Today:   Proverbs 27:7  “A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.”

This is a day when many are feeling the effects of too much sugar!  We say that the candy haul is not for us but for the kids.  But somehow and in some mysterious way, some of the candy finds its way into our own mouths!  Perhaps it was a result of “testing” it to make sure all was safe and as it should be.  When I was a little girl I had a very strong taste for sugar.  Thankfully, I do not crave sugar quite as much today.  Perhaps I got to that sated stage mentioned in today’s verse.  I reached a “sugar overload” that diminished my cravings. Now, the more I abstain from sugar the less I crave it.  I find a little sweetness goes a long way!

There is a profound truth in today’s verse.  One can quickly become sated and spoiled by all the good things this life has to offer.  But what is new and exciting today can become old and mundane when always available.  I may be initially thrilled with something that later loses its appeal.  By contrast, those less fortunate than I am are perhaps more appreciative.  A little hunger can sure change one’s perspective!

The Lord knows how to make my life sweet without any overindulgence.  He puts into life a mix of pain and pleasure.  He does not want me sated or famished but in an attitude of trust.  He cares not only about my needs but my desires and cravings!  Overindulgence usually sounds so good at the time, but in the end, satisfaction does not come with “more.”

Thank you Lord, that it is You who makes my life sweet!

Scripture for Today: Psalm 40:11 “Do not withhold Your mercy from me, Lord; may Your love and faithfulness always protect me.”

I wonder if I would feel more safe in a “safety car.”  Today’s models come with so many safety systems that perhaps I would.  There are visible or audible warnings to alert the driver and avoid a collision.  There is automatic braking available to prevent collision as well.  Sensors can detect passing pedestrians and there are blind spot warnings too.  There are now rear cross-traffic warnings and lane centering assistance.  With all these helps, surely I would feel some confidence about my safety!

Today’s verse talks about another source of protection.  The mercy of the Lord can intervene to avoid a collision.  His love and His faithfulness can protect a driver not only behind the wheel but also when he steps from the car.  The one who loves the Lord God and acknowledges His name is the one who is rescued and protected by His hand (Psalm 91:14).  Whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe (Prov. 29:25).  The righteous, or those in right standing with the Lord, are feeling this security as a result of trusting Him.

I feel like it is an exercise of trust every time I climb in to the car!  The crowded freeways of Southern California give me lots of opportunity to trust Him.  Sure, it is great to have extra safety features but in fact, His protection covers so much more.  I do not deserve His mercy, love and faithfulness as I can be just as impatient or careless as the driver next to me.  And if there is a breakdown or collision I can continue to trust His loving control of the situation.

Thank you Lord, that You are my best protection.  Help me to fully trust You today.

Scripture for Today: I Corinthians 2:9 “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ – the things God has prepared for those who love Him.'”

The colors of fall can be breathtaking!  And the colors in God’s pallet continually amaze me.  His use of color is bold and startling.  I have trouble putting red and orange together but not Him!   Our God is creative and masterful with color.  And how amazing it is that He should take such creative care in something so temporal.  It makes me wonder about the colors that are eternal in Heaven.  As He will be the only source of light there, it’s difficult to imagine what different hues and new colors He will create!

Today’s verse speaks of our limitations in understanding what is prepared for us in Heaven.  Our earthly senses and even our imaginations cannot fully grasp the colors, light and sounds of our eternal home.  But the passage goes on to say that believers can have some spiritual understanding because we have residing in us God’s Spirit.  Our physical senses and our mental imaginings can only go so far in understanding spiritual truth.  We need the revelation of His Spirit.  It is because of His Spirit we can understand what He has so freely given us (verse 12).

So much of what He has so freely given to me is in my future.  But He has painted my world with the beautiful colors of His love now!  I see that color with spiritual eyes.  Surely, the color of His faithfulness is a bright cobalt blue.  And the color of His forgiveness?  It must be dazzling white!

Lord, heighten my spiritual senses to see and hear and feel all You have given to me today!