Ephesians 1: 3-4 (NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Who would not want to experience joy, peace, and hope? It is all within reach as we reach out and trust in Jesus. May the Holy Spirit fill each one of us to overflowing, so that we may be able to surround others with His joy, His peace, His hope, and His love. Amen.
Verse: Romans 15:13 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When you forgive, you love. And when you love, God’s light shines upon you. Jon Krakauer
Anybody feeling burdened by the challenges of everyday life? I do not know many people who are not burdened by something in some way. If you are not feeling burdened, then please take some time to encourage or support those around you who are in distress. Each, in our own time, will be called upon to step up and help someone else. Will you accept the call? Help others endure hardship. Be an encourager. May all be you do be used to glorify God. These things and more, I pray. Amen.
Verses: Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Father, You are holy. Your love is perfect. Your grace empowers us. Your mercy has no end. We praise you and humble ourselves before you. Amen.
A friend of mine mentioned a portion of Scripture to me many years ago. It was where Jesus rebuked Peter. Paraphrasing, Jesus said, what is it to you what I do with someone else? He continued with, go mind your own business. We have enough to do to keep our own relationship with God headed in the right direction, never mind trying to point out to someone else their failures or shortcomings. Let’s focus upon our own walk with the Lord and leave the work of the Lord to the Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Verses: Romans 14:10-13 (NIV)
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Father, touch us today with Your love. Hold our hand and dry our tears. Let us feel Your love surround us and help us to reach out in love for those whom You have placed in our lives. Amen.
The Body of Christ is often referenced when people are talking about a group of believers in Jesus Christ. It is often said that we, as Christians, are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in the world today. He lives in us and through us as we seek to follow Him each day. Just as a body cannot function properly without its parts, we cannot function properly alone. We need each other. We are to work together for the proper functioning of the Body of Christ. May we do just that, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Verses: Romans 14:7-9 (NIV)
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
We become truly personal by loving God and by loving other humans. In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of the Creator in us. Kallistos Ware
Living a life of decency is not reserved for the lives of Christians alone, but Christians are expected to try to live a life that is honoring to God. Setting aside our needs and desires to serve the desires of our Lord Jesus Christ is something to aspire to and work toward. The Lord, our God, through the work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, will provide for us and enable us to stand up under any circumstance of life that might try to pull us away from Him. May we look to our God to fulfill our needs and satisfy our desires according to His will and purposes. Amen.
Verses: Romans 13:13-14 (NIV)
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Faithfully Yours Forever 