27th. July. 2021.Daily Devotion.

Christian Charity

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13

‘Charity’ now means simply what used to be called ‘alms’—that is, giving to the poor. Originally it had a much wider meaning. (You can see how it got the modern sense. If a man has ‘charity’, giving to the poor is one of the most obvious things he does, and so people came to talk as if that were the whole of charity. In the same way, ‘rhyme’ is the most obvious thing about poetry, and so people come to mean by ‘poetry’ simply rhyme and nothing more.)

Charity means ‘Love, in the Christian sense’. But love, in the Christian sense, does not mean an emotion. It is a state not of the feelings but of the will; that state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have about other people. . .

Our love for ourselves does not mean that we like ourselves. It means that we wish our own good. In the same was Christian Love (or Charity) for our neighbours is quite a different thing from liking or affection. We ‘like’ or are ‘fond of’ some people, and not of others.

It is important to understand that this natural ‘liking’ is neither a sin nor a virtue, any more than your likes and dislikes in food are a sin or a virtue. It is just a fact. But, of course, what we do about it is either sinful or virtuous.

Lord God, in this time of love, let me always remember the difference between liking someone and Christian charity. Amen. ~ by C. S. Lewis, from “Mere Christianity”

Prayer for Guidance

Lord, teach me to number my days aright, that I may gain wisdom of heart. Help me do today the things that matter, not to waste the time I have.

The moments I have are precious, Lord, see that I count them dear. Teach me to number my days aright. Fill me this day and all this coming week with your kindness, that I may be glad and rejoice all the days of my life. Through Christ I pray,Amen.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.

Coronavirus Prayer

Gracious God, we pray for those who are struggling emotionally and spiritually, those finding it hard to experience your presence, those who can’t see you through the tears and the anguish.
Thank you that even when we are struggling to have a vision of you. You are with us. You have promised to never leave us, and you have said when we seek you we will find you.
Thank you that you enter into our sorrow and pain, you journey with us in our questions and our doubts. Bring comfort strength and hope we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.