The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Things I Take for Granted" for Friday, 27 March 2015 - Scripture: John 15:10-21

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Things I Take for Granted" for Friday, 27 March 2015 - Scripture: John 15:10 If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love. 11 I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete.
12 “This is my command: that you keep on loving each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other!
18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the world — on the contrary, I have picked you out of the world — therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours too. 21 But they will do all this to you on my account, because they don’t know the One who sent me.

Paul wrote, “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored.”[2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NIV)]
I sat in my cozy chair and read my Bible. Then I scanned Facebook. My attention was captured by a memorial to William Tyndale carved with a statement that Tyndale was convicted of heresy and on October 6, 1536 was executed for translating the Bible into English.
This memorial made me think of how often I take things for granted. I have freedom to attend church, to read my Bible, and to share my beliefs. My family honors God and supports my faith. I don’t have much money, but I’m rich in freedom. Jesus died to save me from my sin. Soldiers died defending my freedoms. William Tyndale died so I can read the Bible in English. While I enjoy these privileges, some people today face rejection and death threats from their own families for following Jesus Christ. Others are persecuted, imprisoned, or killed for their faith.
Knowing all this, I now pick up my Bible with renewed reverence. I sing with a grateful heart and pray for fellow believers in other countries who are suffering for their faith.
Read more from the author, here."Things I Take for Granted"

I flew to southern Africa with my parents and two older brothers when I was six weeks old. My parents served as missionaries in South Africa and Botswana with Africa Evangelical Fellowship (now merged with SIM). It wasn’t until I became an adult that I fully appreciated the amazing experiences I had as a child: walking on Table Mountain; hearing the cascading thunder of Victoria Falls; watching animals like lions, elephants, springbok, and wildebeests in their natural habitats; experiencing the generosity of people who had basically nothing but the food in their hut and the clothes on their back; riding behind my dad on his Honda motorcycle as he travelled sandy paths to villages where he shared Bible studies; watching craftsmen carve chunks of wood into candlesticks, sugar bowls, and images of animals; hearing the complex harmonies in A cappella singing.
My family and I also experienced the agony of saying goodbye to friends and family, the confusion of culture shock when we returned to North America, and the pain of racial discrimination.
All of these experiences have helped make me the person God wants me to be. I tend to be hyper aware of newcomers and how I can help them feel welcome because I know what it’s like to be a stranger. I pray for missionaries and their children because I know how much the prayers of our supporters meant. I volunteer in my church and community because I understand that others will help me when I need it.
I still find myself taking things (like my Bible written in English) for granted, but I make a point of thanking God for the many blessings He has given me. Gratitude has a way of keeping our focus on God and clarifying our perspective.
What are you grateful for today? [Ruth L. Snyder]
The Author: Ruth L. Snyder (Alberta, Canada)
Thought for the Day: We have freedom to pursue our faith today because of choices people made yesterday.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the gifts of salvation, the Bible, and freedom. Be with our brothers and sisters who are suffering for you. Amen.
Prayer focus: Believers Suffering For Their Faith

____________________________