“Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.” – 1 John 2:10

In the mid-200’s AD, Lawrence was a deacon in Rome. He was martyred in 258 A.D. The St. Lawrence River and more than 250 churches in England are named for him. Lawrence served under Pope Sixtus II who was arrested and martyred under the persecution of the Roman Emperor Valerian.

As deacon in Rome, Lawrence was charged with the responsibility for the material goods of the Church, and the distribution of alms to the poor. Before his death, Sextus’ captors demanded, “Where is the treasure of the church?” The Pope would not tell, and they tortured him to death. He never did tell, but in his agony and pain, Pope Sextus somehow mentioned the name of Archdeacon Lawrence. They took Lawrence captive.

“Where is the treasure of the Church?” They demanded, threatening with the same fate that came to the Pope.

Lawrence replied, “Governor, I cannot get it for you instantaneously; but if you give me three days, I will give you the treasure.”

The Governor agreed. Lawrence left. Three days later he walked into the Governor’s courtyard followed by a great flood of people.

The Governor walked out onto his balcony and said, “Where is the treasure of your church?”

Lawrence stepped forward, and pointed to the crowd that accompanied him — the lame, the blind, the deaf, the nobodies of society — and said, “Here are the treasures of the Christian church.”

The treasures of this life are the same as those in heaven, other people. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for those people He has brought in your life and treasure them above any earthly thing.

“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.” – J. B. Priestly

God’s Word: “‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ He asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!'” – Mark 3:33-34

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN THE LETTERS OF JOHN pkennedy6@yahoo.com