Passage of the Day:
But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love, 1 Corinthians 13:10-13.
Reflection:
Mere Christianity is what introduced me to the concept of theological virtues. Reading this C.S. Lewis book for a Youth Ministry Trade School more than 30 years ago inspired curriculum for an 11th grade Bible class that I taught for a decade. However, within Lewis’ chapter entitled Theological Virtues, love is replaced with charity based upon the King James Version of the Bible. Subsequently, the final 3 months of 2024 will be devoted to hope, faith and charity. According to one of Jesus’ disciples, these 3 virtues can only be accessed by the power of the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:3-4.
Prayerful Action:
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires, 2 Peter 1:3-4.
Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:
One of the most profound statements made by C.S. Lewis is “success is the process of arriving.” Like David after slaying Goliath, Moses parting the Red Sea and Elijah calling fire down from heaven, human nature has a way of convincing individuals that they’ve arrived. Yet, the words of King Solomon provide a serious warning, “pride comes before the fall.” So where does hope, come into play? As the apostle Paul writes in a letter to the Church at Corinth, hope is found in the process of arriving. If 2024 has caused you to fall back into bad habits, Christian maturity takes time. May hope and faith come together to form belief so that one day you will put childish ways behind you.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Hope or a lack of hope can be the difference between success and failure. May the lyrics of today’s song provide a glimmer of hope to rest upon this fall.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 