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!