Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 9
Wednesday


LOVED
TO LOVE

READ:
Deuteronomy
10:12-22
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Therefore love the
stranger, for you were
strangers in the land of
Egypt. __Deut 10:19
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life was at risk every day he stayed in Hitler's Germany, but he stayed nonetheless. I imagine he shared the apostle Paul's view that being in heaven was his heart's desire, but staying where he was needed was God's present purpose (Phil. 1:21). So stay he did; as a pastor he offered clandestine worship services and resisted the evil regime under Hitler.

Despite the daily danger, Bonhoeffer penned LIfe Together__a look on hospitality as ministry. He put his principle to the test when he lived and worked in a monastic community and when he was imprisoned. Every meal, every task, and every conversation, Bonhoeffer taught, was an opportunity to show Christ to others, even under great stress or strain.

We read in Deuteronomy that just as God ministered to the Israelites who were leaving egypt, He instructed them to imitate Him by loving and hosting strangers and widows (10:18-19; Ex. 22:21-22). We too are loved by God and empowered by His Spirit to serve Him by serving others in countless ways each day through kind words and actions.

Who on our daily journey seems lonely or lost? We can trust the Lord to enable us to bring them hope and compassion as we live and labor together for Him. __Randy Kilgore

```````````````````That I may serve Him with a full surrender,``````````````````````
``````````````````````My life a crucible, His eye the test,``````````````````````````
````````````````Each hour a gift from Him, the gracious Sender;`````````````````````
``````````````Each day a pledge to give to Christ my best. __Anon.```````````````````
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The more we understand God's love for us
the more love we'll show to others.

******************************Today's Bible Reading __ Deuteronomy 10:12-22****************************

12 And now, Israel, what
does the LORD your God
requie of you, but to fear
the LORD your God, to walk
in all His ways and to love
Him, to serve the LORD your
God with all your heart and
with all your soul, 13 and to
keep the commandments of
the LORD and His statutes
which I command you today
for your good?

14 Indeed heaven and the
highest heavens belong to
the LORD your God, also the
earth with all that is in it.

15 The LORD delighted only
in your fathers, to love them;
and He chose their
descendants after them you
above all peoples, as it is this
day. 16 Therefore circumcise
the foreskin of your heart,
and be stiff-necked no
longer. 17 For the LORD your
God is God of gods and
Lord of lords, the great God,
mighty and awesome, who
shows no partiality nor takes
a bribe. 18 He administers
justice for the fatherless and
the widow, and loves the
stanger, giving him food
and clothing. 19 Therefore
love the stranger, for you
were strangers in the land of
Egypt. 20 You shall fear the
LORD your God; you shall
serve Him, and to Him you
shall hold fast, and take
oaths in His name. 21 He is
your praise, and he is your
God, who has done for you
these great and awesome
things which your eyes have
seen. 22 Your fathers went
down to Egypt with seventy
persons, and now the LORD
your God has made you as
the stars of heaven in
multitude.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

It is interesting to note that when our Lord faced His temptations
in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11), all of the verses He quoted are
from deuteronomy (8:3; 6:13).