I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore. Ps 86:12

There are times in sports when players are called to be “all in.” Hold nothing back. Give their all. Commit with all their heart, with all their might, and every waking moment for one single purpose. Many players play the game, while few players live for the game. These players are “all in” and everything they do is for the game. In our scripture passage the psalmist declares to us that he is “all in.” He gave his all to praise and glorify the Lord. He learned to forsake the things and ways of the world, and “trust in the Lord” (Ps 31:6).  He gave his whole heart to God. He allowed nothing to divide or distract his affections. He withheld nothing from the God he loved and served. Hear the psalmist say, “I will praise Thee…with all my heart.” His heart was true and sincere (Jas 4:8), and his eyes were open to see the one true God, “O Lord my God.” He found God to be faithful on every occasion throughout his life, whether crisis, threat, or danger. Now and for eternity he would “glorify Thy name for evermore.” The Apostle Paul is another example. He declared to the early church and to us the “all in” life as “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Php 1:21). Though his life was but a vapor, which is here today and gone tomorrow, he expended himself in every moment and every occasion to glorify his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He lived unashamedly for the gospel (Rom 1:16) and served Christ with all his life. My friend, there are so many examples in the Bible of those who chose the “all in” life. The Bible declares that “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1). Let us join them to be “all in” and “run with endurance…looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). Father, thank You for Your love, Your mercy to forgive and cleanse all unrighteousness, Your grace that is sufficient, and Your faithfulness that endures forever. I join the heavenly host to “praise Thee…and glorify Thy name for evermore.” In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

“‘Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength, and with all thy mind,’ and ‘thy neighbor as thyself.” Luke 10:27

I pray that you had a glorious day of worship with your local church on the Lord’s Day. God is worthy of our praise and all that is within our beings. Showing and sharing God’s love in today’s climate of socially distanced communities comes with many challenges and difficulties. Even before the times of social distancing, mandated precautions, and protective measures, we would be hard-pressed to know the family next door or across the way. The days of calling out to a neighbor or coming to a neighbor for help have long passed. Names on the mailboxes have faded and given way to numbers and the same might be said for neighborly love. The scripture passage illustrates to us the manner of Christian love declared in the bible and demonstrated by Jesus. The child of God is to be known by their love for God and for others. It is a love that extends beyond comfort zones and outside circles of friends. It is the kind of love that Christ demonstrated by leaving His glory in heaven to declare the Father’s love to a lost and dying world to deliver a holy, eternal, acceptable sacrifice to redeem man from sin. Jesus became a neighbor to the His enemies. He came to those who rebelled against Him and rejected Him, who would not recognize Him as the Son of God. The example of Jesus makes it clear “who is my neighbor?” (Lk 10:29). A neighbor is the one who sees the need, feels the need, touches the need and who meets the need. The neighbor is “He that shewed mercy” (Lk 10:37). The Samaritan encountered the man in need along his journey and did the neighborly thing for him. He had compassion and was moved to action. My friend, when we open our hearts to see, feel and touch those in need, we become neighbors of God’s compassion and mercy to the world. Father, help me to hear Christ say, “go and do thou likewise” and be a neighbor those in need. Father, thank You for the love, mercy, and compassion that You showed through Your Son Jesus Christ. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Father, “open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You” and move me to extend my hands that others may know Your mercy and come to know Your love. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. Rom 14:13

Sometimes conflict happens. Conflicts and disagreements often happen because we are looking for something to criticize rather than looking for ways to bless. Our scripture passage gives clear instruction to settle conflicts and disagreements. “Let us not…judge one another anymore.” A person who judges another might say, “I am right, and you are wrong.” A judgmental attitude leads to disagreement and divisions. What really matters in life is not who is right and who is wrong, but who is right with God and right with others. Jesus came to be God’s blessing to the world, not to condemn (Jn 3:17, but to save the world and “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). The life-giving ministry of Jesus Christ continues today, and the child of God is God’s blessing to the world. My friend, walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit that you may not “put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall” for another. The Holy Spirit seeks to bring unity, peace, and comfort. Father, thank You for the blessing of eternal life through Jesus Christ and the peace of abundant life. Lead me and guide me to be a blessing to others, to always seek unity and comfort those in need and distress. May my words be acceptable to You and peaceful toward others. In the Blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.