Seeking peace through prayer

The days and weeks between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are for most Christians a special time of year. It is a time to reflect on our service to the Lord.

Have we let the things and values of our secular culture come between our concern for self and our service to God and others?

We are reminded that "Not every one who says Lord, Lord will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in Heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Prayer is a central ingredient of this Christian religion. One aspect of prayer is asking the Father in Heaven to show us and guide us in serving Him and serving others.

Others is an inclusive term not an exclusive term. All people are God's people. So to serve others Jesus gives us some guidance in Matthew 25:34-36: "Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom purposed for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

I would suggest that there is even more we can do as we consider Jesus' saying, "Love the neighbor as you love yourself."

For me Jesus is the Price of Peace so I must be doing all I can to bring about peace in this war-torn world. I ask the question, "What am I doing to bring peace?", but I would also lay this question on your heads and minds.

God bless.

• Rev. Bill McCord is retired from the First United Methodist Church in Carson City and is a member of the Carson City Ministerial Fellowship.