Love
and all its disciplines and manifestations can be significant
irritants to those inordinately self-determined and self-willed. To
them life is a zero-sum game. Mutuality from this point of view is
only cynical accommodation and kindness a similar ploy. Such a
mindset is antithetical to God's purpose of love and peace. Disdain
thereby is shown for God's word. Do I honor God's word?--sometimes.
Sometimes the reptilian legacy of the mind reacts with and expresses
domination and power instincts. It is such times that I remember
hymns of faith, such as “Sweet Hour of Prayer” in attempts to set
aside anger and a bent for retaliation. (Blog of 3/8/13 - Disdain or
Kindness?)
“Unless
I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy
Scriptures or with open, clear and distinct grounds and reasoning—and
my conscience is captive to the Word of. God—then I cannot and will
not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against
conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. So help me God.” -
Martin Luther
Prayer
from today’s mediation: Through the Year with Jimmy Carter,
p.136:
O
God, keep me from the arrogance of considering myself superior to
others. Help me look my sin square in the face, give me an
insatiable desire to do your will, and grant me the strength to
follow through on my commitments. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
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