The Upper Room Daily Devotional 1st August 2023
The Upper Room 1st August 2023 Daily Devotional, Tuesday Message by Brian A. Wolfe (Pennsylvania, USA)
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TOPIC: Singing for Ezra
TODAY’S READING
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. – Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
When Ezra came to our church, he and I struck up a friendship that led to many conversations and eventually a visit to his country home. But his health failed, and soon he was in our local veteran’s hospital and nearing death.
One day I took my guitar and songbook to his bedside and sang hymns to him as he drifted in and out of a groggy state of mind. He would open his eyes and sing along with me and then close his eyes and rest with a smile on his face. I played and sang quietly, not wanting to disturb any other patients. But as I reached the end of my visit, a nurse came into the room and said, “Could you play a little louder? The man across the hall is dying and loves to hear the music.” Wow! How could I have known that the Spirit of God would use my simple act of love for my friend as a blessing to someone else?
Our acts of love and service reverberate beyond our imagination and become instruments through which God blesses others.
TODAY’S PRAYER
O Lord, open our eyes to the needs of those around us. Help us to be your voice and your hands of love. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
By serving others I am serving God.
PRAYER FOCUS
Volunteer musicians
The Upper Room 1st August 2023 Devotional Message, is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More.
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