Bearing in Love

Read Ephesians 3:14-4:3

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." - Ephesians 4:2-3

Reflection of Tommy:

As Christians we are not entirely free from disagreement and even argument with other believers. We may be trying our best to be loving, sincere and caring to others, but we do at times struggle to keep our temper and be patient and gentle to those who irritate and annoy us. Sometimes we are also saddened by the things others do and words they have said about us. People, even our own brother and sister in Christ, may hurt and bring us down.

But we need not to burn in anger and harbor resentment towards them. Instead, we should first know how deeply God loves us (v18-19). We need to allow our minds to be transformed and renewed by His love. We need to see how Jesus himself demonstrated this love for His enemies, with true grace and mercy. This enables us to truly look pass what others have done to us, not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult (1 Peter 3:9) but with good, patience and gentleness reflecting God's love in us (Matthew 5:16).

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me about patience and gentleness today. Thank You for revealing to me how amazing and great Your love is for me. Forgive me of doubting Your love and care for me when I can't truly see how You works all things for good for those who love You.

Father, I pray that You'll lead and guide me to forgive, be patient and gentle always towards others. I pray that You'll continue to change me to be who You wanted me to be, pleasing in Your sight and to shine for You in the world around me. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Inner Peace

Read Isaiah 53:7-9

"Be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing." —1 Peter 3:8-9

Reflection of Tommy:

I used to be a very reactive and bad-tempered person. Small annoyance and irritation from people can drive me insane! But as I walk closer to God, the Spirit changes me from within to be more Christ-like, helping me to grow and bear more the good fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - Galatians 5:22-23).

As we read today's passage, we see and learn how Jesus responded to all the insult, accusations and mockery. Instead of retaliate and repaying evil with evil, our Lord display true inner peace by showing mercy and love for His enemies. Through our forgiving attitude, other may see the power and love of Christ in us. Like what the author in the Daily Bread said - "The worst criticism of you can bring out the best of you".

Dear Father, thank You for molding me to be more like Your Son each day. Help me to see Your plan for my life and how I can be used by You in the extension of Your kingdom. Teach me also always remember not to repay evil with evil (Isaiah 53:7-9), insult with insult but to display Jesus' kind, gentle and forgiving attitude to those who are unfair or unkind to me; that they may see Your love and grace in me. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.

How to Rebuke

2 Samuel 12:1-13

Nathan Rebukes David
1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4 "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."

5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."

7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. 9 Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'

11 "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' "

13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."
Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

Reflection of Tommy:

Like Nathan, there are times we need to confront someone with advice in order to let them aware of their wrong actions. Instead of rushing to pinpoint their wrongs, we need to pray for skill, wisdom and tact before we present our message to them that they may respond constructively.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to be careful with my words even though I know I have a good advice for others. Thank You also for making me aware to evaluate myself first before commenting on others. I continue to pray for gentleness, wisdom and tact whenever I have the opportunity to give advice to others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Overcoming Evil With Good

Luke 9:51-56

Samaritan Opposition
51As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[a]?" 55But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56and[b] they went to another village.

Bee's Thoughts:

Dear Lord,
You are so forgiving and we need follow Your example. Help me to forgive fully those who have hurt me do much. Set me free from my own prison cell of unforgiveness if any. Let me love my enemies and thereby fulfill Your law of love.
In Jesus' name I pray.

Tommy's Thoughts:
Like James and John, we sometimes do feel like retaliating when others reject or scorn us. Although we may not necessary be doing something clearly evil, but in a subtle way, we try bringing down that person whenever there’s an opportunities or treating them unfairly all the time.

Today passage shows how Jesus rebuked this attitude of retaliation because judgment belongs only to God. Instead of repaying evil with evil, we are called to overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:19-21) and leaving vengeance to God.

Dear Father, thank You for reminding me about not taking things into my own hands; but instead trusting You to be the Judge for all injustice. Teach me to have the patience and wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent, and always act in peace and with gentleness. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.