The Greatest fear of all, of being ungrateful to God and betraying him. For it is comparatively little to sin without having confessed God-or known him, that is, in blindness and ignorance and confusion. But to confess Christ and then sin and so betray Christ by ingratitude (knowing His love and great mercy) and then to justify yourself and your sin, what a terrible damnation! That is worse than Pilate's sin, or the horror of the executioner who drove the nails in, orof the soldiers who peirced Him with the spear-it is the betrayal of Judas.
~ Thomas Merton, Run to the Mountain
Matthew 24: 12-13 (ESV)
12And because lawlessness will be increased,(A) the love of many will grow cold.13 But he who endures to the end will be saved.
" He loves thee too little who loves anything together with thee, which he loves not for thy sake." ~ St. Augustine
“The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love”. ~ Henry Scougal
Lord,
May our love for you never grow cold. May the temptations and distractions of the world never keep us from seeking you, from making you the most precious treasure of our lives that we hold dear above everything else. May you illuminate your truths to us and give us direction and clarity as we pursue your ways. Thank you for your free gift of mercy, undeserved, that, like showers, fall upon the hearts of sinners turned towards your love, refreshing us, giving us strength and resolve to carry out your will. Forgive us when we fall short, as oftentimes we do. May the eyes of our hearts always be turned to you and may the ears of our hearts always be receptive to hearing the whispers of your precious Spirit.
In Jesus' holy name, Amen.
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