My word for May 4th is Affect
While living we may do things that not only affect us, but
they affect everyone around us.
Yesterday John Edward’s trial got heated. Many of his staff members were placed on the stand to
discuss how his wife, Elizabeth, reacted when finding out about his
affair. During detailed testimony
by Edwards communications adviser told how Elizabeth collapsed in an airport
car park curling up in a ball.
This upsetting testimony caused Edward’s daughter, Cate, to leave the
courtroom in tears. The media
states that this may be to Edward’s advantage. The defense will use this to explain how Edwards wanted to
save his family from the hurt and devastation not that he was trying to save
his political career.
Many people do certain things before they think. They do not ask themselves, “How will
this affect everyone else?” These
are the things that are done that affect the people we love the most. It causes devastation, hurt, and
harm. I can’t imagine how Cate
feels, her mother passed away from breast cancer and her father on trail for
adultery. Edwards didn’t think
about what should have been first in his life. When Jesus recited His commandments He said, “Love the Lord
your god with all your heart, this is the first commandment. And the second is like it, Love your
neighbors as yourself”. Clearly
Edwards did neither. If he had put
the Lord first he would have been able to contain himself and hold back on his
desires. Edwards would have also
cared deeply about his family, loving his neighbor as himself. He would have realized what effect an affair would have on
them.
God wants us to love others as He has loved us. Love takes effort. It may be difficult at times. In an article I read “Put God First And
You Will Never Be Second” there were three principals to live by. Put God first, love others as yourself,
and work hard. When we are
having difficulty loving others go to the Lord for assistance. Pray for Him to help you and lead
you. He didn’t say life would be
easy and He didn’t say that being able to love would be easy. It does take hard work to love others,
especially those who have not loved us, those that have caused hurt and devastation
to our children. Go to the Holy
Spirit. Through prayer the Holy Spirit
will enable us to love, love those that have hurt us, love those that have
affected us. The Holy Spirit is
available to enable us to do what we cannot do on our own. Affect those who have affected us, save
yourself and your family, use love as your defense, and be effective.
Dear Lord when things in this world have affected us negatively
help us to see the light in the midst of the darkness. Help to overcome our adversity. We know that by putting you first and
loving our neighbors we will prosper.
During 2012 we are willing to work hard to ensure that those we affect
are affected in a positive way.
Matthew 22:37-38
Love the Lord your
God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is
the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, "Love your
neighbors as yourself."
Proverbs 14:23There is much
written in the bible about hard work, here is a wise proverb from Solomon, the
richest man who ever lived.
All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave
room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will
repay," says the Lord.
http://www.throneroomministries.org/godfirst.php
Throneroom Ministries, Put God First, Put God First and You will Never Come In
Second, May 3rd, 2012, copyright 2012.
http://christianity.about.com/od/topicaldevotions/a/How-To-Forgive.htm,
About.com. Christianity, How to forgive, How to forgive With God’s Help, Jack
Zavada
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