Longing For Fellowship

How deeply are we longing to be in close fellowship with God?  How willing are we to put aside things that we like to have, activities that we like to do, people we like to be with, for something that is greater?  To what degree are we willing to inconvenience ourselves on behalf of helping others? 

These are fair questions at any point, on any day, but they are so appropriate in our times when everyone seems to want and fight for what works for them and sometimes fail to see the impact of our wishes on others. 

God gives us the best example to follow:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:1-2

Thank You, for your unfailing love, Your willingness to be inconvenienced so we could now love and forgiveness. Your love is unfailing even though we so often fail You, run into trouble, and then call out to You for help.   You always respond generously to us because Your compassion for us is great. 

Help us to follow Your example and live in a new way as we welcome You to live in us.  As St. Paul writes:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Galatians 2:20

Amen

I’ve thought about and prayed about those words many times.  Such a challenge and struggle that goes on in us as we seek to  live as sons and daughters of God, rather than as self-willed people following the lures and lies of the evil one.

In these days, we pray, along with a guy named ST. RICHARD OF CHICHESTER:

Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ for all the benefits you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.  A most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.

Have a wonderful day.