Love Unites
8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Bee's Thoughts:
I am extremely tired after I came back home late at night after my trip to JB. Yet I am eagerly doing my devotion so as to read what God wants to say to me tonight.
Is this love? Perhaps. When we love someone, we always want to know what he/she wants to tell us and we want to hear his/her voice.
Ah, tonight God is telling me about love again. Love binds "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" together in perfect unity (v14).
Hmmn... what does that mean? You see, we can do all these things (v12 & 13) without truly love, but if we truly love we will do all these things. Does it make sense? Time is the test of whether what we do for someone is out of love or out of selfish gain or any hidden motive.
True love stays when all novelties pass away. True love unites, not divide. True love brings peace, not war.
Dear Lord,
Even though I am so tired, thank You for giving me the strength to read Your word. Thank You for reminding me to love truly and not do things for my personal gain.
I pray that I will love You more each day so that I can love others in the way You want me to. When confusion comes into my mind I pray that Your peace will rule my heart and mind. Let me do all as unto You, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Tommy's Thoughts:
Although it is easy to proclaim our faith as Christian, making all the right resolutions and having good intentions, but often our attitude and conduct doesn’t match our faith. As Christian, we are called to “do all in the name of Christ” – to bring honor to Him daily wherever we may be, both in the things we say and do.
If we have yet to really walk our talk, we need to make changes in our lives today to imitate and honor Christ at all times. We can begin by the simple strategy mentioned by Paul in today’s passage:
1. be kind, compassionate, humble, gentle and patience (v12)
2. be forgiving (v13)
3. be thankful always (v15)
4. keep God’s Word close to our heart (v16)
5. let love guide our lives (v14)
6. let peace of God rule in our heart (v15)
7. live as Christ’s representative to the world (v17)
Dear Father, thank You for teaching me again to ‘put on my new self’ (v10), to act like a true Christian always in every given situation. Lord, give me the peace and patience to trust and obey Your leading; knowing clearly You knows what’s best for me. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
