Ephesians 4:26-32 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Paul gives us a long series of "Let it Be"s... There are things we need to Let God do in our lives, and things we ought to Be - not just for ourselves, but for the sake of those around us. We are often unaware of the influence we have on a watching world - for evil or for good. We can demonstrate the power and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, or the lack thereof. People are watching, and listening, to what we do an say. These things have the power to build up, or drive away. Be aware.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Body Functions...
Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
The older we get, the more we realize how often we take our body functions for granted: the way our joints move, the abilities of our senses, and especially our internal organs. When they begin to fail to function properly, life can be difficult. It can seem like we are falling apart. All the more reason for us to do everything we can to keep our body healthy. In the body of Christ, we all have a function, even if we cannot do it the way we used to. We never outgrow the ability or need to love, which does, indeed, cover a multitude of sins, gray hairs, limps, creaks and groans. Christ holds us together. May we be His body today.
The older we get, the more we realize how often we take our body functions for granted: the way our joints move, the abilities of our senses, and especially our internal organs. When they begin to fail to function properly, life can be difficult. It can seem like we are falling apart. All the more reason for us to do everything we can to keep our body healthy. In the body of Christ, we all have a function, even if we cannot do it the way we used to. We never outgrow the ability or need to love, which does, indeed, cover a multitude of sins, gray hairs, limps, creaks and groans. Christ holds us together. May we be His body today.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Our most fragile heirloom...
Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
When Christ died, rose again, and ascended, He entrusted the Mission to His Church. In the upper room he had promised a number of resources to help us in that task: His Spirit, His peace, His abiding love... But the most delicate thing He entrusted to us is oneness - that is one thing He and the Father share in perfection which we have an uncanny way of disrupting. We are called to live in oneness under Christ's headship. That allows for so many breaches of contract - if, okay, when any one of us violates this oneness, it affects us all, and we all do it way to often. Our goal, the longer we are His, and the longer we are together, is to grow in that oneness more and more, not less and less. May we be recommitted to that task today.
When Christ died, rose again, and ascended, He entrusted the Mission to His Church. In the upper room he had promised a number of resources to help us in that task: His Spirit, His peace, His abiding love... But the most delicate thing He entrusted to us is oneness - that is one thing He and the Father share in perfection which we have an uncanny way of disrupting. We are called to live in oneness under Christ's headship. That allows for so many breaches of contract - if, okay, when any one of us violates this oneness, it affects us all, and we all do it way to often. Our goal, the longer we are His, and the longer we are together, is to grow in that oneness more and more, not less and less. May we be recommitted to that task today.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
More than a Memory verse...
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(Colossians 3:17 ESV)
This is a verse many of us will recognize as a generic "memory verse" for camp, Sunday School, or some kids Bible group. Actually, it is a summary of all that has gone before, summarizing the whole of the Christian life: transformation of every thought and action to live to please God, thankful for each and every change He makes to bring us to where He wants us to be. May this be more than just a memory verse for us; may it be the passion of our lives.
(Colossians 3:17 ESV)
This is a verse many of us will recognize as a generic "memory verse" for camp, Sunday School, or some kids Bible group. Actually, it is a summary of all that has gone before, summarizing the whole of the Christian life: transformation of every thought and action to live to please God, thankful for each and every change He makes to bring us to where He wants us to be. May this be more than just a memory verse for us; may it be the passion of our lives.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Speak up and Sing out! Do not remain silent!
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
God has given YOU something to share. He has given each of us something to share with other members of the body of Christ. Don't be greedy and keep it to yourself. We can receive instruction, correction, and unification when we do. Don't mess up God's design for His church! Sing out! Speak up! Give thanks and share what you've got!
God has given YOU something to share. He has given each of us something to share with other members of the body of Christ. Don't be greedy and keep it to yourself. We can receive instruction, correction, and unification when we do. Don't mess up God's design for His church! Sing out! Speak up! Give thanks and share what you've got!
Friday, January 2, 2015
The Peace of Christ
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15 ESV)
Most years, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the most peaceful times of the year for me. I am able to sit back and relax and enjoy all the blessings God has given me: family, their gifts to one another, and His Greatest Gift of All. I bask in thanksgiving. That's the way He wants it to be every day in our homes and in our churches. He wants us to constantly thank Him for Christ who joins us together; we wants us to let Him be the peace that calms any calamity or conflict. He wants it to be Christmas every day in our hearts, homes and fellowship.
Most years, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the most peaceful times of the year for me. I am able to sit back and relax and enjoy all the blessings God has given me: family, their gifts to one another, and His Greatest Gift of All. I bask in thanksgiving. That's the way He wants it to be every day in our homes and in our churches. He wants us to constantly thank Him for Christ who joins us together; we wants us to let Him be the peace that calms any calamity or conflict. He wants it to be Christmas every day in our hearts, homes and fellowship.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
A New Outfit for the New Year...
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 ESV)
Every day we look in the mirror to try to dress and look our best, so we feel good about ourselves. Every year we often pause and look at ourselves, what we have become, and do some re-examination. This year, let's look at how we affect others - how what we "wear" impacts them. The list Paul has for us here comes from the inside out, but is obvious externally. Kindness, meekness, patience and forgiveness will very much be seen and felt by those around us. May we be even half as concerned about what we are "wearing" spiritually as we are about what we are wearing physically.
Every day we look in the mirror to try to dress and look our best, so we feel good about ourselves. Every year we often pause and look at ourselves, what we have become, and do some re-examination. This year, let's look at how we affect others - how what we "wear" impacts them. The list Paul has for us here comes from the inside out, but is obvious externally. Kindness, meekness, patience and forgiveness will very much be seen and felt by those around us. May we be even half as concerned about what we are "wearing" spiritually as we are about what we are wearing physically.
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