If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him. JN 14:23
My Soul's Beloved,
Elisha made a bold request - he asked for a double portion of the Spirit that was given to Elijah. Too often our requests are timid. We ask for crumbs instead of the whole banquet. We ask for little and we receive little and then we are disappointed and we complain.
Let us come boldly up to the Throne of the Father where You sit at His right hand interceding for us day and night and let us make all our requests known to You and the Father will grant You all that You ask on our behalf. We can be confident that all we ask You in prayer You will grant us for You assure us. 'Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, ask and it will be given to you.' May we ask boldly with expectant faith, seek You confidently, and receive all we have asked for humbly and joyfully, with hearts filled with praise and thanksgiving, always. Thank You, Lord.
Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water; and the water divided to left and right, and the two of them crossed over dry-shod. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Make your request. What can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ Elisha answered, ‘Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’
He picked up the cloak of Elijah which had fallen, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak of Elijah and struck the water. ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ he cried. He struck the water, and it divided to right and left, and Elisha crossed over.
PSALM 30(31):20,21,24
How great is the goodness, Lord,
that you keep for those who fear you,
that you show to those who trust you
in the sight of men.
that you keep for those who fear you,
that you show to those who trust you
in the sight of men.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plotting of men;
you keep them safe within your tent
from disputing tongues.
from the plotting of men;
you keep them safe within your tent
from disputing tongues.
Love the Lord, all you saints.
He guards his faithful
but the Lord will repay to the full
those who act with pride.
He guards his faithful
but the Lord will repay to the full
those who act with pride.
Let your heart take courage, all who hope in the Lord.
MATTHEW 6:1-6,16-18
My Soul's Beloved,
My Soul's Beloved,
Being a Man and therefore human like the rest of us You understood our proclivity to parade our good deeds before all so we may be applauded and thought better than we actually are. You warn against this. We are not called to impress our neighbor but to please God. If we mistakenly believe that we can fool God then we are truly to be pitied for You O Lord know us and You see our heart.
Too many of us seek to parade our virtues and people around us pat us on the back and praise us - we have attained our goal and received our reward. There is no merit in such acts of virtue before God. It is the person who humbly, quietly, self-effacingly, goes about the humdrum duties that they carry out in looking after sick and old parents, sick and or disabled or mentally challenged children, those who have given up their own chance of happiness to care for a sick sibling or relative, those fathers, mothers, husbands and wives who lay down their lives daily in order to care for each other and their children. These are the real heroes. Anyone who works to the best of their ability offering all for the glory of God will indeed receive a great reward. For God sees all, God knows all and He will reward richly all who live their lives to serve others joyfully and humbly.
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