The One Who Leads Us With Love

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 6:02 pm Post subject: The One Who Leads Us With Love

The One Who Leads Us With Love

Scripture:

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I do not resist: I have not gone back. I have given my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that plucked them: I have not turned away my face from them that rebuked me, and spit upon me. The Lord God is my helper, therefore am I not confounded: therefore have I set my face as a most hard rock, and I know that I shall not be confounded. He is near that justifies me, who will contend with me? let us stand together, who is my adversary? let him come near to me. Behold the Lord God is my helper: who is he that shall condemn me?
(Isaiah 50:5-9a)

What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he has faith, but has not works? Shall faith be able to save him? And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food: And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit? So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself. But some man will say: You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without works; and I will show you, by works, my faith.
( James 2:14-18 )

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And in the way, he asked his disciples, saying to them: Whom do men say that I am? Who answered him, saying: John the Baptist; but some Elias, and others as one of the prophets. Then he said to them: But whom do you say that I am? Peter answering said to him: You are the Christ. And he strictly charged them that they should not tell any man of him.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the ancients and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed: and after three days rise again. And he spoke the word openly. And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him. Who turning about and seeing his disciples, threatened Peter, saying: Go behind me, Satan, because you savor not the things that are of God, but that are of men. And calling the multitude together with his disciples, he said to them: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.
(Mark 8:27-35)

Reflection:

Our senses reveal to us, yet they betray us for what they do not reveal. We see what is of the world. We hear what is of the world. We smell what is of the world. We taste what is of the world. We feel what is of the world. With all we may observe, how is it so many do not observe the ways God works within their lives? They look for so many explanations for what they cannot explain, yet do not look for God.

There are others who observe, not only with what they may see, hear, smell, taste, or feel; but with their hearts they sense the presence of the One who created them. They observe the events of their lives and they observe when God is nudging them. They know that what appears to some as mere coincidence cannot be explained as such, for the patterns of God are not yielded by coincidence.

When we recognize that God is walking with us, then, we recognize that while the mortal world may take from our physical presence, it cannot take from our soul unless we allow it. No matter the challenge of the world, if we turn our soul over to God, He will protect us from the ultimate darkness.

If God is with us, the question is, are we with God? We may profess our love for Him with our lips, but how does anyone know what is behind our words unless they observe it in what we do? If we praise God, yet walk in opposition to His commandments, then, what shall anyone conclude who observes? If we praise God and keep His commands, then, He and all who observe shall see our respect for Him. If we endeavor to do the work to which He calls us, then, no one can deny the meaning of our answer. Let us, then, observe His commandments, especially His commandments to love, for if we understand and live by the commandments of love, then, we fulfill the words of the prophets and the purpose of the law. (cf Matthew 22:36-40)

The road to which we are called is not easy, for in the demonstration of our love for God and one another, we are often called to deny ourselves. Indeed, it is often our own selfishness which leads us to sin.

Some may ask, why should we care about One we cannot see or why should we worry about others when we have our own needs to which to tend? Those who do not know God do not know where to look for Him or how to recognize Him. He surrounds them, but their resistance to Him dulls their senses as well as their mind.

Those who know Him, feel Him. Those who know Him see the work of His hands. Within their hearts they are guided by Him. Those who truly observe, know. They are able to profess and they are able to receive the blessings He gives. Blessed are those who see the glory of the Lord, for no matter the trial of the world, they know He will guide them through. Blessed are they who see the goodness of the Lord.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we demonstrate our thanks for the One who suffered for our sins?

In what ways do we demonstrate our faith through what we do and what we do not do?

Who is Jesus to us and in what ways do we allow Him to touch our lives?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier