Serving God wholeheartedly

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Joshua 7:16-9:2
Luke 16:1-18
Psalm 82:1-8
Proverbs 13:2-3

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In Americanized Christianity, we tend to think of our relationship with God as a segment of our life in which there are many other segments. There is church time, work time, family time, me time, etc.

While we wouldn't audibly agree with the fact that we compartmentalize our relationship with Jesus each day, our schedules tell us differently.

When we look at how too many of us spend too little time in God's Word and prayer each day and how rarely we speak of our Lord to others or offer up sporadic prayers throughout the day, but how much time we spend doing other things of no eternal value, we are reminded that our relationship with our God hasn't adequately permeated the moments of our days.

When we look at our verse for the day, we are reminded that God wants all of us, not just a part of us.

The language of our verse of the day tells us that Jesus says it is impossible to serve God as we should and yet also serve other things, too. There is no room for a segmented, compartmentalized life. We are either serving God as our master or we aren't.

Does that mean we must quit our jobs, leave our families, and give up our hobbies so that we can join a monastery to serve Jesus every moment of our day? Of course not!

Jesus wants us to experience the joy of serving Him while we go about the various activities of our day.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

So, as you live out the moments of your day, live with a conscience awareness of Jesus' presence with you in each of those moments. Let prayers flow from your lips during the moments of your days, especially when you need something from Him (e.g. wisdom for a decision, courage, peace, etc.). Consider writing a "verse for the day" down on an index card each morning so that you can meditate on it during the day.

Whatever it takes, strive to serve the Lord wholeheartedly while you live the moments of your day. Because, each follower of Jesus longs to one day hear Him say: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

My family's visit to the St. Louis Old Courthouse (July 9, 2014)

After visiting the Gateway Arch with my family, Kim wanted to check out the Old Courthouse. You can see the courthouse in this picture I took at the top of the Gateway Arch. It's the building with the green, round top. 

Here's a picture I took simply because I liked the reflection the courthouse made on an adjacent building. (It looked a little better in real life.)

I'll admit that I wasn't excited about visiting the courthouse. I had no idea what historic event happened in that building until Kim shared it with me as we were entering the building. (More on that in a moment.)

The inside of the courthouse was decked out in spectacular patriotic colors and American flags.

Outside the courthouse, a statue was erected and a marker explained the significance this particular courthouse played in American history. Dred Scott and his wife filed a lawsuit to try to gain their freedom. The story is long but the Scotts, as slaves, saw the evils of slavery firsthand and wanted freedom for themselves and their children.

It was in this courthouse that they filed a suit that ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court. The ruling in that high court was not in Dred's favor and, in fact, was utterly despicable. In essence, one of the justices in the majority opinion stated that neither Dred Scott nor any other persons of African descent were American citizens and thus were not entitled to the rights and freedoms shared by all Americans. That ruling was one of the major precipitating forces that led only a few years later to the beginning of the American Civil War.

In 1857, after he had lost his case (which had caused so much upheaval for his owner who had refused to give him his freedom), he was sold to his original owner for $1. His new owner immediately set him free. Where was his freedom legally granted? Back in a courtroom in St. Louis. We were able to visit that courtroom and take a few pictures on our trip.