Passage of the Day:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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. 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, Ephesians 4:29-5:2.
Reflection:
The apostle Paul takes concepts from acts of the sinful nature in Galatians 5:19-21 and reveals specific behaviors from Ephesians 4:31 which prevent Christians from loving and forgiving others. Meanwhile, Paul uses the imagery of taking off your old self by replacing this with qualities that allow you to forgive others. The more I read today’s featured passage; Paul is providing instructions on how to love like Jesus.
Prayerful Action:
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins, Mark 11:25.
Learning to Love this December as God Forgives You:
As Jesus prepares for his impending betrayal, arrest and death on a cross in Mark 11, He is blunt about the barriers that exist in any attempt to forgive. Using a teachable moment to speak to His disciples, Jesus points to grudges and the roots of bitterness that exist within human minds. The key to emulating the love of Jesus starts with forgiving as God forgave you, Matthew 6:14-15. If unwholesome thoughts pop into your minds, turn to prayer, take these thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. Yet, love is a lifetime of failures, trial and error, to become more like Jesus.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
The Bible refers to human beings as jars of clay in the hands of God the Potter. As Christians hunger and thirst for righteous, God will continue to mold and fashion you into a vessel of love and forgiveness. May the lyrics of Somebody Prayed ignited a flame of faith within you today.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 