Nourish Your Heart

ACCEPT THE WEAK IN FAITH Romans 14:1 - Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.

Jesus left his heavenly glory to become man — to walk the don dusty Judean trails, to mingle with lepers and to train twelve unlearned men who would hold the keys to his Kingdom. Jesus died for all sinners. He became weak so we could become strong. He became nothing for us, so we could become the daughters of God.

Paul writes, “I became weak to win the weak. I became all things to all men to save some.” I Corinthians 9:22 He suggested the strong bear the failings of the weak. (Romans 15:1 – We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.)

Christians never stand on the same level of maturity in the church. Older Christians must teach babies to walk; they must stoop to carry the burdens of the weak in love. This sharing strengthens the strong and serves the weak.

Prayer: Lord help me to see and help those in need. Show me when my help is needed for my fellow man.

(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)

John 17:22, 23 – I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

When the church was new, the disciples had all things in common. No one lacked because those who had, shared. Some sold their lands to help the needy. Jesus’ prayer for unity was answered. But how long did that last? Satan sowed discord and problems began in the church.

God’s people can only live in unity if they love each other (Colossians 3:14 – And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.). Christ is the hub in the wheel of Christianity. Too often his followers crawl to the outside rim with their own ideas. Then strife begins. We must return to the hub of the wheel for smooth rolling in the church.

Otis Skinnings reminds us of that fact in his chorus that we sing: “We have joined our spirit with the spirit of God. We are one in the bond of love.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love even when I don’t feel like. Help me look for your hand working around me and rejoice in our differences.

Today God, I am lonely. I look around and wait for you to work on my behalf. But I do not see you working. I do not see things happening for me.

I only see the depressing amount of work and duty and responsibility I have been given. I only see the disappointments I have suffered. I cannot see your hand moving today. Where are you God this day?

I have had to let go of my dreams. So I have tried to substitute them with other lesser dreams or desires. I only want to be able to enjoy myself and laugh, just once this week. I just want see your salvation working out in my life.

Help me to fulfill my duties with diligence and patience. Show me your grace by giving me strength to put out one more fire and to make it though one more meeting.

Show me how you love me by protecting me from further harm. Heal my broken body with your mercy and your love. Bring healing into my heart where it aches for you and your peace.

Thank you for my friends you have given me. Thank you for the joy they are to me. Guide my words to bless them daily. Send them blessings that they need.

Arrange my life how you want it to go. Teach me to accept your plans. Show me where you are leading me. Bless me with the joy that comes straight from you.

Psalm 68:5-7 Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows. You find families for those who are lonely. You set prisoners free and let them prosper, but all who rebel will live in a scorching desert. You set your people free, and you led them through the desert.

Psalm 40:1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.