Life is full of treats. I just found a treat in my devotional book called "Lady in Waiting: Becoming God's Best While Waiting for Mr. Right."
God is the fountain from which all streams of goodness flow.
He is the center form which all rays of blessedness shine. All
our actions are, therefore, only good insofar as they have a
reference to Him: the streams must revert to their Fountain,
the rays must converge again to their Center.
If love for God is the governing principle, this powerful spring will
actuate all the movements of the reasonable creature. The essence of
religious faith does not so much consist in actions as in affections.
Though right actions may be performed where there are not right
affections, they are a mere carcass, utterly devoid of soul, and
therefore, of virtue. On the other hand, genuine affections
cannot substantially and truly exist without producing right actions.
Let it never be forgotten that a devout inclination which does not
have life and vigor enough to ripen into action when the occasion
represent itself has no place in the account of real goodness.
What a model for our humble imitation is that divine Person who was
clothed with our humanity! He dwelt among us so that the pattern might
be rendered more engaging and conformity to it made more practicable.
His life was one of unbroken, universal charity. He never forgot that we
are compounded both of soul and body, and after teaching the multitude,
He fed them. He repulsed none for being ignorant, was impatient with
none for being dull, despised none for being loathed by the world, and
He rejected none for being sinners. Our Lord encouraged those whose
forgiveness others criticized; in healing sicknesses He
converted souls; He gave bread and forgave injuries. Christians must
seek to express their morning devotions in their actions through the day.
