Through the Lens of the Cross

This week we will focus on, “Serving when it is Difficult”. It is not as difficult to serve the needs around us when things are neat and sanitary and people are pleasant to be around. But when things are not so sanitary and pleasant and people are not so easy to get along with we have a greater tendency to keep our distance. We will embrace the challenge this week to see people and circumstances through the lens of the cross. We will spend some time in the book of James that will hopefully help us evaluate how we look on those around us that are in need.

Spend some time today reading James 2:1-12. Are you guilty of showing favoritism at times? Go out of your way this week to do an act of kindness or express words of affirmation to someone that you may find it difficult to reach out to. Consider these words from John’s first epistle:

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
I John 4:19-21

Prayer: Lord, we call on You for the enabling power of Your Spirit to help us in areas where we are weak. Amen