[Faith-talk] Fw: [B H F] Upper Room, Wednesday, March 25, 2009

[cory McMahon]

Good morning!

Hope you all enjoy:

----- Original Message ----- 
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 8:23 AM
Subject: [B H F] Upper Room, Wednesday, March 25, 2009


> The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
> Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
> Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
> Imitations of Christ
>
> Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV)
> People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch 
> them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he 
> was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do 
> not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 
> Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little 
> child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his 
> hands on them, and blessed them.
>
> Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for 
> it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." - Matthew 
> 19:14 (NRSV)
>
> MY hands and fingernails were grubby from working in the garden with my 
> two-year-old granddaughter, Dellaunna. When we came inside and washed our 
> hands, I used a soft-bristled brush to get the grime out of my skin and 
> from under my fingernails. Watching me, Dellaunna picked up the brush and 
> ran it across her hands as she had seen me do. Now, whenever she washes 
> her hands at that sink, she uses the brush. She has no idea why; she just 
> saw Grandma do it. As I thought of all the things she has done simply 
> because she has seen me do them, I realized this is what God wants from 
> us - that we be imitators of Christ.
>
> In our complex world, it is easy to stray from the way of Christ, to give 
> in to temptation, to rationalize wrong behavior. But faithful followers of 
> Jesus Christ do not choose to be like him only at certain times or in 
> certain situations. Even though we do not understand everything he has 
> told us to do, we can follow Christ with childlike trust. Children 
> believe, they trust, they imitate. Maybe this is why Jesus said the 
> kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like them.
>
> Prayer:
> God, our Guide, give us faith to see you more clearly and to imitate you 
> more faithfully. Amen.
>
> Thought for the Day:
> Be imitators of Christ.
>
> Sue Briggs (Michigan, USA)
>
> Prayer Focus:
> People Caring For Children
>
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