SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 114-1
STARTS THURSDAY 1st APRIL 2010
CONVERSION - CHANGE OF HEART IS GOD’S WORK
Weekly message No. 109 (27th March 1986).
The sacrifice of love.
“Dear children! I wish to thank you for all the sacrifices and I invite you to the greatest sacrifice, the sacrifice of love. Without love, you are not able to accept either me or my Son. Without love, you cannot give an account of your experiences to others. Therefore, dear children, I call you to begin to live love within yourselves. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Show your love to people in situations when love means sacrifice on your part.
Thursday: Love of neighbour.
Matthew 5:43-48.
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Friday: The greatest love is giving one’s life for others.
John 15:12-13.
12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Saturday: Love in action.
1 John 3:16-18.
16By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.
Sunday: Jesus is our pattern for offering sacrifice of love.
Ephesians 5:1-2.
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Monday: Following Christ by sacrificing one’s life.
Mark 8:34-35.
34And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Monday: Cf. Romans 12:1.
1I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Tuesday: Christ gave us an example to follow.
1 Peter 2:21-25.
21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Tuesday: Cf. John 13:15.
15For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
Wednesday: Sacrifice in loving service.
Matthew 20:24-28.
24And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; 28even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”