Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10 (KJV))
During my childhood, my mother and I would often pass the candy counter in a certain department store. Each time, I asked for one of the enticing lollipops that were six inches in diameter. After repeated denials, my mother relented one day and bought me one. At first, I was thrilled. However, as the afternoon wore on, I got tired of holding the wooden stick with its heavy load of sticky candy. Mother warned that if I put it down, it would get dirty and I would have to throw it away. That’s how I learned that getting what I thought I wanted wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
The Bible shows us several people who wanted something that turned out not to be such a good thing. For example, the prodigal son wanted his inheritance before his father died. After spending his money extravagantly, he ended up impoverished and hungry. I often wondered why his father agreed to give his son his inheritance, but maybe it was the same lesson my mother taught me when she bought me the huge lollipop. At times, God seems to teach that lesson, too. I’ve learned that it’s important to end my prayer requests with, “Your will be done.” God knows what is best for me.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for caring for us enough to say no. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Luke 15:
11 Again Yeshua said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will be mine.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he squandered his money in reckless living. 14 But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch.
15 “So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 “At last he came to his senses and said, ‘Any number of my father’s hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I’m going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and started back to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son — ’
(Complete Jewish Bible).PRAYER FOCUS: Candymakers
READ MORE: More From Mary Hunt Webb
RELATED DEVOTIONALS: LOLLIPOP LESSON BY MARY HUNT WEBB (NEW MEXICO)
Mary at age 7½ with her mom, Kay This photo of me and my mother was taken around the same time I learned the lollipop lesson described in today’s meditation. Although Mother has been gone more than 20 years, the lessons she taught me are still a part of who I am and how I live.
Like the lesson in today’s meditation, many of the lessons my mother taught me came from the Bible. It’s not always easy to recognize those biblical lessons. I hear people say that the Bible doesn’t address the complexities of today, but the Bible teaches us basic behavior. One such biblical admonition appears in Luke 14:28, in which Jesus says, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Jesus' words are similar to the saying, “Think before you act.”
I was too young when I asked for the lollipop to consider the complications of the purchase, but that incident taught me to think ahead before I act. In some ways, I am still learning that lesson. When I'm considering a purchase now I have to ask myself, Do I really need the item? Will I use it often enough to justify the expense? Where will I store it?
This same lesson also applies to actions on the Internet. I must remind myself to consider, Do I really need to join a social media group? Will it usurp time that I should devote to other things?
Jesus advises us to consider the consequences of our actions before we commit to them. Just as it was a valuable lesson is Jesus' time, it’s a beneficial lesson today.
My husband and I pray that we can reflect our Lord to others. Toward that end, we have a website. We welcome you to explore our postings on our “Webbsite” at http://www.maryhuntwebb.com/.
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