Today's Reading:
1 Chronicles 24:1-26:11
Ephesians 4:17-32
Psalm 109:1-20
Click on Text Link to Read Online
Focus Verses: Ephesians 4:31-32
31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along
with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Insight:
Fellowship
and friendship among Christians requires care and effort. There are
many things that threaten to destroy unity within the body of Christ.
Paul warns the Ephesians of some of the things they must guard against:
falsehood, failure to speak truthfully, uncontrolled anger, holding
grudges, stealing, laziness, selfishness, careless words, bitterness,
rage, fighting, slander, lack of compassion, ignoring the Spirit, and
the failure to forgive. All these things give the devil a foothold and
sabotage Christian community.
Response and Action:
I
want to both enjoy and extend the blessing of Christian fellowship. I
understand that this will require effort, humility, and obedience on my
part. I will strive to live with integrity. I will speak truthfully and
carefully because I want my words to be helpful and beneficial to
others. I will keep my attitude and my temper in check. I will not allow
anger to slip into rage or bitterness. I will not hold grudges, but
will instead learn to forgive and extend grace. I will do my best to be a
responsible and hardworking person. I will cultivate a compassionate
and generous attitude toward others. I will look to the Holy Spirit for
the guidance, strength, and transformation I need to be a life-giving
member of the body of Christ.
O
God, protect your people from the sins and weaknesses that destroy
fellowship. By the power and grace of your Holy Spirit, shape and create
a community of Christ-followers that honor you, love each other, and
bless the world. Forgive us for the times we are careless and allow
anger, malice, and selfishness divide us from each other. Help us to
turn away from careless words, ugly attitudes, and foolish actions that
cause dissension. Give us hearts that seek to love you with everything
we've got, and seek to love others as ourselves. Through Christ, I pray.
Amen.
Spiritual Formation Verses: Philippians 2:1-4
1
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any
tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being
like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Resources:
Life Together
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
No comments:
Post a Comment