Scripture: Psalm 122:8-9
For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
Thought for the Day: Though we don’t want to get too confident in our achievements, I think we can be excited about the amazing strides taken in dealing with HIV and AID’s. Yesterday was World AID’s Day, and numerous articles spoke of sisters and brothers who have found renewed strength and hope. Many around the globe have been able to return to normal lives, which includes raising children and working. Bill Gates wrote, “A decade ago, over 1 million people in Zambia were living with HIV. Only 143 of them were receiving treatment. The average cost of that treatment was more than $10,000 per year. Being infected with HIV in Zambia was akin to a death sentence.” Today, it cost about $150/year to provide the anti-retroviral treatment that is changing people’s future. Again, we should not become overconfident and miss those who do not have access to medication, but there is great hope. This hope exists because certain people were willing to seek the good of others despite a culture that was afraid and judgmental. Through the compassion of God and the hope of the Christ child, let us do the needed work to insure that peace is a gift found within everyone.
Prayer: We give you thanks, Lord God, for all those who have worked tirelessly for the sake of others. They are your instruments of grace and healing. Amen.
