Living in God’s Grace
Hoping and wishing all will be fair
Striving to live in just and honest life
All in the untainted conscience and soul
Prudent to live with skills and resources to accomplish desired goal
Enriching lives so we don’t get tempted to sin
We have talents and will to decrease our chances to sin
We have empowering love of God to protect us from all that is evil
Be shrewd, be clever and wise
Not to ruin our soul but to protect it each day
Know our values, our core, our skills
So we could always know how to be of guard to avoid sin and evil
Let us not be part of the dissolution and conflict
Let us be a part of peace and become a warrior for peace
Live and practice only those that are righteous and holy
To lead a life worthy of God’s blessings and purpose
God has a precious plan for all of us
Let us use all of our God given talents and resources
To fulfill our destiny and be a full pledge disciple of Christ
A Christ warrior at heart, mind and soul
One blessed with the right approach, the right words, and the right opportunities to share the faith.
One that takes strategies to gain wisdom and courage to fulfill the goals
Be a warrior on guard to protect faith, hope and love
Building the path to the Kingdom of heaven
Father, help us to be more discerning in all we do, say and think
Lead us to a life that will make you proud
Share your blessings to everyone and share your miracles of love
Increase our hope, faith and love to fulfill our destiny set by you
Through you, with you and by you we live, we hope and we cling to your promises. Amen
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:1-6
September 22, 2013
The master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. (Luke 16:8)
That’s right. The “hero” in this parable is a dishonest man who cheated his way out of a tough situation. Many commentators think the steward had been overcharging his master’s debtors so that he could take the extra money for himself. So by reducing their debts to reflect the amount they actually owed, the steward not only got rid of the evidence of his wrongdoing, he also won over the debtors. With a reputation for generosity and fair play, he could have had any job he wanted!
The prudence that Jesus highlighted in this parable is a matter of skillfully using available resources to accomplish a desired goal. This is the kind of shrewdness that Jesus wants us to take up as well. He’s not asking us to do anything dishonest, of course. But he is asking us to be careful, clever, even calculating as we live in this darkened world.
So what are some ways we can be shrewd? How about when dealing with our own sin? We are all capable of justifying ourselves, overlooking sin or explaining it away when we want to. What’s more, the devil likes to capitalize on that tendency, trying to trick us into sin. So be shrewd! Don’t fall into the trap of easy explanations or feeble excuses.
Or how about when you want to help someone come to know the Lord? You know that simply talking about the Apostles’ Creed won’t likely win people over. You have to find the right approach, the right words, and the right opportunities to share your faith. And that takes some strategizing as well as careful thought and prayer. It takes learning how to be “all things to all” people (1 Corinthians 9:22).
Being shrewd and prudent is the best way to build the kingdom. So may we all learn from today’s “dishonest steward”—without becoming dishonest ourselves!
“Jesus, help me to find creative ways to grow closer to you and to share your love. Lord, make me a shrewd evangelist! Father, forgive us from all our sins and make us more prudent in all that we do. Father we offer you everyone we are praying for, those who pray with us and each and every soul in this land who are in need of your guidance, help and protection. Help us all in our journey to live a life of great blessings from our Father Almighty. We claim, we accept all that are planned for us. We accept all the goodness and kindness you have given us. Father, come to us and fill our hearts with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Help us to grow, to mature to propagate the good news and your goodness. We cling to you and accept you as our Father, our Provider, our Protector and our Guide. Lead us oh Lord Jesus to the path of righteousness to be with heaven with God. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angels and saints. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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