Today’s Readings:
Acts 14:5-18
Psalm 115:1-4,15-16
John 14:21-26
Great things happen when we live our lives in union with God. Such great things include incredible works of healing just as Paul did for the cripple in the Lycaonian town of Lystra. Let us not get too excited. Works of healing are not the only proof that God is with us or that we have a relationship with Christ. The first beneficiary of a robust relationship with God is you. Your life is better. You begin to think of the good of others just as Saint Jude did in the Gospel when he asked Jesus, “Lord, do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
The answer is rather simple: God intends to reveal Himself to the world through you; through your good and selfless actions and your desire for the good of others, God will be known and loved. In a world riddled with selfishness, you can only become great by being selfless like Jesus who gave up his life for us and rose from the dead to restore us to everlasting life.
Here are some ways to experience greatness and lead others to Christ today:
Start your day on your knees in prayer. Kneeling to pray is a sign of humility. In prayer, you acknowledge God, the Giver of life and all good things.
Dispose yourself to be used by God. Your conscious prayer should be, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart and make me your chosen instrument. Amen”.
Your relationship with God comes first. Fear to displease God even if it means displeasing others whom you think you love (“If anyone loves me, he/she will keep my word and my Father will him him/her"). If you do not fear God, you cannot have any meaningful relationship with anyone.
Acknowledge and respect everyone. You don’t know who is in the room with you. Respect for others (especially through honest compliments) will open doors that your credentials may never open.
Improve yourself in every way in readiness for your opportunity. Humility means that you have trained yourself to the stature of Goliath but you still maintain the countenance of David. You cannot be too prepared.
When things get hard, run to God. When things get better, stay with God.
Give God all the credit for your accomplishments: “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory” (Psalm 115:1)
With these things in mind, go forth and do great things for the glory of God.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
Prayer:
I will praise thee with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise they name for thy lovingkindness and for they truth; for thou had magnified thy word above all thy name.
God, our Heavenly Father be my protector and provider, in Jesus name.
May God the Son be my supporter and guardian, in Jesus name.
May the power of the Holy Spirit supply the unction and inspiration for greatness in my life today and always, in Jesus’ name.
O Most High, keep our children, youths, and young adults in Your secret place and let them abide under the shadow of Your arm, in Jesus name.
O Lord raise up the likes of Esther, Ruth and Deborah in our generation, in Jesus name.
Father, let Your healing power begin to operate in our nations, in Jesus name. Amen.
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