Hello, God. It's me, Mara

You know Lord, there are "rules" everywhere you look, everywhere you go, everything you try to do, there always seems to be rules. On the road, at the border, and at work, there are rules, regulations, forms to be completed and guidelines to follow. Even silly computers try to tell us what we can or cannot do, to what it can or cannot do!

Ralph K. shares this passage from Romans 12:9: "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good." Then he adds, "Are these just another set of rules that we are to follow if we want to be good Christians? Oh no, far from it! What Paul gives us here is a description of the way the people of God are living. People who have been blessed by God (and to bless means to make happy) are so thankful for what God in Christ has done for them that their lives turn out a little different. This isn't a complete list for Paul, just some things he has seen in those whose lives have been touched by the grace of God. And, you will notice that he begins the list with love.

"We probably all need an Action Step, so, try this: 'Today, remember how blessed (happy) you are, because God loves you.'" Ralph ends his memo/letter with a bit of a prayer: "O God, how do we thank You for Your redeeming love."

And we might also look at verses 13 and 14: "When God's children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, or, if they need lodging, for the night ... If someone mistreats you because you are a Christian, don't curse him; pray that God will bless him."

Love, Mara