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Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11: According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Abridged: As the spiritual glow of a mountaintop experience fades, a Divine Light will begin to expose darkness, causing us to repeatedly choose between our humanness and the invitation we have received to labor for God's holy purpose. Meditation: There is a significant difference between receiving an invitation to serve God and learning to fulfill the task that has been requested. Receiving an invitation to serve God often occurs during a spiritual mountaintop experience. It can be accompanied by an ecstatic vision in which our "heart is strangely warmed" (as John Wesley stated it). Tears of joy and a profound sense of humility often accompany the thought of being chosen by God to serve a holy purpose. Visions and experiences of divine love, mercy, and compassion enter our hearts and propel us forward to stand among others who have been similarly chosen. Learning how to complete a task for God, however, is significantly different. After the luminous and ecstatic glow of the mountaintop fades and we enter extended periods of prayer and study, spending vast amounts of time alone with God, the Divine Light can begin to fade, exposing darkness in our souls. Life can bring people who will exploit our weakness, test our patience, and attempt to dissuade us from fulfilling the invitation we have received from God. People and events mysteriously appear that batter our pride, undermine our self-image, and test our attachments to material possessions. God knows our every weakness and will watch as all kinds of people, places, and situations tempt us. As we persevere in our labor for God's holy purpose, we must choose repeatedly between our humanness and the Divine Invitation we have received. The good news, however, is that if we persist in fulfilling the request of God, the eternal rewards will surpass even the ecstasy we experienced when we received the invitation on the mountaintop. Prayer: Holy Creator, help us set aside everything that hinders us on the path toward your Divine Light. Shine on us, within us, through us, and everywhere around us. Rid us of all darkness, and help us share the brightness of your love forever. Amen Enter password: .