Daily Devo - Friday, September 14, 2007

"Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance."
Jude 2 (NIV)

If America is defined by anything, it is our incredible abundance. The early settlers were amazed at the seemingly endless natural resources, and foreign countries (England, France, and Spain) quickly positioned themselves to become the chief beneficiaries of such wealth (and, also went to war over the new continent). Today we grow more food than any other country in the world, produce more automobiles, and quite literally hold the world's wealth. We have gidgits and gadgets, shiny cars, and beautiful homes (comparatively).

But, most Americans have never possessed the three little words "mercy", "peace", or "love". As humans, we yearn for someone to show us true mercy, to experience true peace, and to be in a relationship marked by true love.

Mercy forgives our faults.

Peace overcomes our pain and offers renewal.

Love unconditionally accepts us.

With all our abundance, and all our wealth, we cannot buy these three ideals. They come only from a relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ. His mercy, peace, and love endures forever.

Prayer,
Merciful Father,
We experience these three things in you.
The mercy you offer through Christ,
the peace granted to us by the Spirit,
and the love your Son demonstrated to us on the cross.
In our wealth, we are the poorest of men.
Yet, in my poverty, I possess the greatest riches in the world.
Thank you, and amen.