"Ponder"
of the Week
* Read and reread the scripture each day.
* Ask God to show you His truth through His Word.
* Ponder the scripture as you go about your day.
* Keep a record of your spiritual growth and understanding.
See thoughts on how to ponder on the "'Ponder' of the Week" main page and on the HOME page
Week 12/15-21/2024
Suggested Scripture to Ponder this week:
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
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Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
Commentary:
In Acts 10:1-8, we read about Cornelius. He was a Gentile dedicated to worshiping God with the knowledge that he had and to the best of his ability. He is known for two things: prayer, and giving alms. Because his heart was seeking God, God spoke directly to him through a vision. The angel said, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God" (verse 4). Constant prayer and giving of alms go hand in hand. Cornelius "prayed to God always" (verse 2), and had a Godly compassion for others.
I can continually commune with God, because He is my constant companion. Our closest companions naturally rub off on us. The closer we are to our Lord, the more we will become like Him. His compassion will grow in us. He cared so much for other people that He gave His life for them. Giving alms is not just about financial giving. It's an attitude. It's caring more about others than self. Cornelius "gave alms generously" (verse 2). The opposite of "generous" is "selfish." We are naturally self-centered, so we can only have true compassion for others through a close relationship with God.
We are exhorted to pray all the time (I Thessalonians 5:14-18). That's also an attitude. It is more than an occasional conversation. When I make a phone call, I have a conversation with the other person for the duration of the call. Then I disconnect, think about other things, and go about my day. Some of us were taught that prayer is like a phone call: I have to connect with God each time I want to talk to Him. Understand that praying constantly is communing all the time. I am never disconnected.
Constant prayer and giving "alms" go together. It is impossible to pray for any length of time if my focus is on myself. However, if I have Christ's compassion for others, and I'm praying for the needs of others, my conversation with God will be unending. And so it becomes a beautiful circle of spiritual growth.
I have to first allow God to be Lord of every aspect of my life. Then I must ask God to put His compassion for others in me. This is not a casual request. Having Godly compassion for others is sacrificial. It is putting others first. It is bringing our requests to Him with a desire to glorify Him and help others, rather than just fulfill our own desires. It is trusting God for our needs while focusing on the needs of others. It does not come naturally. It is submitting to God's will and giving Him control. It is denying self and seeking Him. It can at first seem uncomfortable and even scary, but the reward is "joy unspeakable" (I Peter 1:8).
(Because of Cornelius' faith and desire to know God, the Lord sent Peter to share God's Word with him. We don't have to wait until a Peter comes to visit. We have easy access to God's Word. Like Cornelius, as we commune with Him, we will want to know Him better and understand His will for us. We only have to ask God to speak to us through His Word ( John 5:14-15), pick up our Bibles and read.)
When I pray for others, and as I develop the attitude of continual prayer, I grow closer to my Lord and more and more Christlike, which in turn makes it ever more natural to continually commune with Him.
It is an upward spiral of spiritual growth that leads from earth to heaven.