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Respite For the Weary
Several years ago, I wrote a devotional entitled Awesome Biblical Concepts, a Devotional for Every Family. This devotional offers a challenging phrase using alliteration, and then expounds on it by looking at two different Bible stories, each one teaching us how to, or how not to live. I hope you will be encouraged by God’s Word along with these alphabetical phrases.
So, let us begin with A: Ask and Accept.
Ask and Accept? A synopsis of Mark 10:17-22.
There once was a rich young ruler who approached Jesus asking, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus, knowing the pride in this man’s heart, and the dependence he had on himself in following rules and gaining wealth, said to him, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” At this, the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. This rich young ruler asked, but did not accept Jesus’ offer of true and abundant life. He was too full already.
Ask and Accept! A synopsis of John 4:1-42.
However, there once was a Samaritan woman who went to a well to draw water. There, she met Jesus who was waiting to meet with her. Jesus, because He was God in the flesh, could see into her heart; He knew she was a lost and lonely woman. While at the well, He looked her in the eyes and gently told her that He cared. He offered her His living water, telling her that if she drank of it, she would never thirst again. With eagerness she asked for this water; and with joy she accepted Jesus as the Messiah. As a result, she ran to tell the whole city about Him, causing many others to believe.
When looking at these two contrasting stories, the challenging questions to us today are:
Will I ask and accept? I must realize that when I ask for His way, I must deny my own.
Do I believe His path is better, more rich and full than what I can accumulate by myself?
Will I lay down my selfish ambitions and my ruling addictions, and hold out my empty hands and my humbled heart for Him to fill in His time and in His way?
Take note of the rich young ruler; he walked away with his pockets full, yet downcast, while the Samaritan woman, left her water pot behind and ran to the city with her heart overflowing with joy.
Ask and Accept, my friend.
Receive His gifts of love, joy, and peace.
Embrace his forgiveness, redemption, and power,
His beauty, guidance, and grace.
Fill your vessel with all of who He is; resist the fleeting things of this world.
Hear Him say to you personally, “Whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)
Ask and accept, drink and be filled, savor and be satisfied.
And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:23-25
Dear Lord,
Help us to deny our fleshly desires on a daily basis. Instead, give us a driving desire to live by your Spirit. As we make decisions, small and big, remind us of how fleeting this world is; may we not get so wrapped up in its powers and pleasures that we lose our true identity in you. Amen.