Adorning the Religion of Jesus
From Myra Sherwood’s Cross, by Lucy Ellen Guernsey
“Oh, my Lord… let me not misrepresent Thee and Thine, keep me stedfast, make me act from principle, let me adorn Thy religion so that they shall learn to love it and Thee… Help me to be consistent, patient, forbearing, the same all day long, as I desire to be when before Thee.” This was Myra Sherwood’s prayer, prayed just when she took on the responsibility of five children. She had her answer, and later, her reward. “The religion of Jesus,” as she explained it to her young half-siblings and their siblings, was adorned by her life of love toward them and others. Though somewhat skeptical at first, they were won over by her consistent love, shown by her self-sacrificial life.
The world hears words every day. Words are cheap. Politicians pour them out, advertisers shout them, friends and acquaintances chat them, and family members speak, giggle, or grumble them. But actions are more rare. It is far easier to say, “I love Jesus and I love you,” than to actually show a person love on a consistent basis, regardless of whether they are lovable and kind to us. As Myra explained it, the religion of Jesus is love and faith: our faith in God’s love, demonstrated by the atoning work of Jesus Christ, brings forth love in us. “But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” (1 John 2:5 and 6.) Real Christians are to live the way Jesus lived - walking in love toward the world around us, through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the way we are salt and light in the earth, attracting others to our Savior. As the old saying has it, actions speak louder than words.
It is amazing that the Lord would grant us opportunities and power to adorn His Gospel. We are not deserving of His mercy, but He not only offers us His grace, He makes us workers together with Him and ambassadors for Him. He gives us the priveledge and responsibility to display Him to the world: let us see that we do it well, seeking Him humbly for wisdom and power.
This devotional was written for the Lamplighter Summer Reading Challenge. For more information about the challenge, please visit lamplighter.net.
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