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We pray for a renewal of our zeal to offer generous help to the unborn and their families.
SCRIPTURE
If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?-- Job 31:13-15
REFLECTION by Rob Schenck, Faith and Action
The ground is level as we stand before God.
Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God's expectation of him, particularly regarding his obligation to care for the weak and needy.
He knew that in God's economy everyone stands on level ground when it comes to our status as God's creatures. Because of that central truth, we must take care of each other.
Job also knew that he didn't deserve any of the good things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came to Job from God's benevolent heart.
As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively linked his obligation to be generous to others to God's kindness toward him.
As in Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves.
He actually calls down on his own head severe condemnation and even punishment should he fail to share with others out of his own abundance (see verses 16-23).
Proverbs 3:27 reads, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so." Some things are so obvious that we don't even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and the power to do what so obviously needs doing.
PRAYER
God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help.
Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother's womb. Amen.
Were it not for Your grace, we ourselves might be the ones in need of rescuing from a death in the womb. Help us to recognize our responsibility to defend those who cannot defend themselves, for as we do this unto the least of these, we do it unto You. Grant us the strength to stand against evil in any form. In the Name of Jesus Christ, who died that all might have life, Amen.
Prayers up
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Posted on the FR California state message board: Wed.
40 DAYS for LIFE - Day 8 (Pray to End Abortion) (Mar 4, 09) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2198899/posts
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