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Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Lord Of All Being Throned Afar"1 (Lyrics) |
Sometimes, I watch shows on television which clearly illustrate how so many people today think only of themselves. Yes, we are a selfish community going our own ways. We sometimes raise money or donate clothing for a needy family or for victims of the wildfires, but that makes the news as something unusual. Is there a longing in any of us to love one another as Jesus said we need to? Do our neighbours ignore us as they go about their business? Do we feel alone amid this society where no one cares for us? Years ago, when I was a child in Bermuda, we knew our neighbours and played with the children on the street. Was it the same where you were born?
The apostle Paul mentions people who are "lovers of themselves":
2 Timothy 3:1-2a,4b-5 – But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. (NIV 2011)
Does that sound like society around us today? Was society back then as selfish as that, too? Has human nature really changed that much? Was Timothy trying to reach people who were lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God?
I don't fear this as a sign of the coming of the end of the world, as some do, but it is a sign that we are busy looking after ourselves and not serving God. There are many people living on the streets today, unable to afford a residence, living in total darkness at night. Do we care for them?
Are you and I so concerned about our own needs that we spend little time worrying about other people's needs and fail to reach out to help another?
Matthew 22:37-39 – Love the Lord your God with all your 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 neighbor as yourself. (NIV 2011)
Prayer: Lord, we live selfish lives these days. Please forgive us and turn our attention to the hurting and lonely among us. Show us how to share Your love with the outcast. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Hip replacement on April 17th - please pray for me: "Update April 24, 2025: I am grateful to you all for your prayers. They supported me through my hip..." 
Neighbour: "Aril 24, 2025: Our neighbour Tom just passed away. Pray for the family. In Jesus name. Amen."
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Thanks Iris for a wonderful challenge. May we all do better.
Thank you, Iris, for this encouraging reminder of God’s values. Blessings.
Amen Iris.
Blessings.
Iris
Thanks for your inputs to the Daily Devotionals. I do read them and I am always happy to see your name on them.
Iris
We have always had such people but we definitely live in the “me” society, an example is how quickly people take offense.
Thanks again for sharing.
YES, IRIS, THANK OUR LORD FOR SHOWING US HIS WAY:
Matthew 22:37-39 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your might. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Thank you, and keep writing.
Dear Iris, Well spoken with this devotion, with all the troubled times we are experiencing now, we need more Love, Peace, Joy and Jesus Christ in our life’s. With all this bloodshed and hatred running rampant and for what reason, other than a few groups who think they want to be the Superior power, for which they will never be. Thank you for sharing and may God continue you to provide for us with such interesting writings.
Once again, dear Iris, thank you!
Blessings.
Hi Iris,
You ask the question about people knowing each other. Just as you experienced in Bermuda, I did in the Netherlands where we lived until I was in my early teens. Part of that was war time, a lot of children on our street, we prayed together a lot. People on the street and in Church depended on each other, I remember my mother getting groceries from a church member who had a grocery store. Mom and Dad had lots of friends.
Now, even though I am not a low profile person because of our involvement in the local Long Term Care Centre, we feel lonely and alone quite often. Our children, the ones that live here and our grandchildren all seem too busy to be in contact a lot. We feel lonely at times.
Thank you for writing. keep it up.
Blessings.
Dear Iris:
Thank you for your powerful reminder of how we are to act toward each other. I believe in this so much as you do. I refuse to listen when my son tells me people are different. I continue to smile at people in the city and even talk with them and they smile and talk with me as well. I hope he see this and will begin to understand that this is what we should be doing. – All the Time.
May God bless you Iris and pour his words into you.
Hi Iris,
I particularly enjoy your contributions to “Daily Devotions”, in part because I too grew up in Bermuda.
Blessings.