The Upper Room devotional reflection for Monday, May 23, 2022 comes to us from Lei Cao Garcia-Bote of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them. John 14:15-21 NIV
“Eat Your Vegetables”
My daughter does not like to eat vegetables. My constant words of encouragement to her that vegetables are good for her health are usually to no avail. But to my surprise, one night she ate all the vegetables on her plate. When I asked her why, she said that she wanted to please me. As we enjoyed that special dinner together, my daughter and I realized God was teaching us something.
My daughter loves me and wants to please me. I think our relationship with God works like that too. When we love and want to please God, we obey God’s commands. And in doing this we also do what is best for us. In the same way that I want my daughter to eat vegetables for her own health and well-being, God wants us to obey for our own growth toward Christlikeness.
Friends –
Lei Cao Garcia-Bote’s reflection reminds me of those moments when I encouraged my sons to eat their vegetables. One of them liked vegetables and the other certainly did NOT. Of course, I reminded him that they were good for his health, etc. When he finally came around to eating healthier, I failed to consciously recognize God’s hand at work. So, I am reminded that God often works in and through us even though we aren’t consciously aware of God’s presence. I invite you to consider, especially in retrospect, moments when God was teaching you through a particular situation and you didn’t realize that God was at work.
--Pastor bea
Prayer:
Dear God, help us to honor and love you by doing all that you have commanded us to do. As Jesus taught us, we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:9-13, NIV). Amen.
--Lei Cao Garcia-Bote
Prayer Focus:
Mothers and Daughters
Thought for the Day:
I show my love for God when I follow God’s commands.