5/4/2018 - Section 93:51-53

May 4, 2018

Section 93:41-53

Lord’s Help, Leaders and Servants, Christ’s Friends, Service, Charity, In the Strength of the Lord, Lord’s Promises, Protection Spiritual, Satan How to Avoid,

The Lord is speaking to the leaders of his church in v 45-46, and puts things into perspective for all of us: “…I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye shall have an inheritance with me--  I called you servants for the world’s sake, and ye are their servants for my sake-” My challenge is to serve with sincere love, for that is what friends do, they serve one another willingly and happily and with love.  But then in the very next verse, He points out areas in which His leaders must improve. And then in v 48, He once again puts things into perspective for all of us: “What I say unto one I say unto all: pray always lest that wicked one have power in you…”

The Lord also emphasizes (v 50) the importance of our close family members—reminding me that service and love and attention to one another begins at home. We can’t be live one way in public and another way at home. Charity needs to be with us always, in every situation.

This section ends with a comforting statement of truth in v 52: “inasmuch as you keep my sayings you shall not be confounded in this world, not in the world to come.” He is speaking direction to the his leaders to whom he has just given tender promises, and with that, has asked for them to complete demanding, time consuming assignments. It is possible to do this all—if we can do it IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD; which to me means keeping Him apprised of my desires, my efforts, my struggles, my hopes, my plans, my strategies, and my need of His help and direction. I am certainly proving this theory as I do my work here in the Philippines as the mission nurse. My desire is to serve the missionaries as I have been called and set apart to do, and to stay close to my children and their children who are so far away from us. With the Lord’s help, I will be able to do it all as long as I work each hour of my days…and nights…trying my best to “keep my sayings” because if I do my best in those efforts I “shall not be confounded in this world.” That is certainly an amazing and profound promise.