SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 102
STARTS THURSDAY 7th JANUARY 2010
“ABANDON YOURSELVES TO GOD”
(A) STEPS TOWARDS TOTAL ABANDONMENT OF SELF TO GOD
Weekly message No. 97 (2nd January 1986).
Seventh step: Making a decision for surrender of self to God.
“Dear children! I call you to decide completely for God. I beseech you, dear children, to surrender yourselves completely and you shall be able to live everything I am telling you. It shall not be difficult for you to surrender yourselves completely to God. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL: A firm New Year’s resolution to say YES to God in everything.
Light a candle as a sign of self-offering to God.
Thursday: The golden rule about loving our neighbour and about choosing the narrow gate.
Matthew 7:12.
12So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Friday: We cannot serve two masters.
Matthew 6:24.
24“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Cf. Matthew 19:21-26.
21Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. 23And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24gain I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Saturday: Offer yourselves to God as a living sacrifice.
Romans 12:1-2.
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. 2Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Cf. 1 Peter 2:5.
5And like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Sunday: Following the example of Christ by offering ourselves to God.
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.
Cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:6.
6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Monday: Jesus is always YES to God.
2 Corinthians 1:19-20.
19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. 20For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God.
Cf. Matthew 5:37.
37Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Tuesday: Following the example of Christ by enduring unjust treatment from others.
1 Peter 2:21-24.
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.
Cf. Matthew 5:11-12.
11“Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Wednesday: Saving one’s life by losing one’s life for Christ’s sake.
Mark 8:34-37.
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. 36For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37For what can a man give in return for his life?
Cf. Matthew 16:24-26.
24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?”