Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 133:1-3
Ps 133:1-3
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Eph 4:1-7, 11-16
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
How wonderful it is to both God and those involved when God’s people get along with each other and dwell in unity! Paul says that we are to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. We are tied together by the Spirit of God in Jesus Christ. It is God who adds the saved to his church, his family and it is our job to get along with each other as family. He does not say we are to create unity but to maintain the unity in Christ that God has given us.
He says that for this to happen we must be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. In Philippians we are given the example of Jesus for us to follow in humility. We are to consider others better than ourselves and look out for their interests and not just our own. This sounds a lot like “treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Heavenly Father help me get along with others as much as it depends on me. Help me truly consider others better than myself. I need your help to do this because it is so easy for me to put myself and my interests first. Remind me that I am not always right, don’t always have all the right answers and things don’t always have to be my way. Give me wisdom to understand your word, strength to live it in my own life and then patience as I teach it to others. Fill me with your love so that it overflows to all with whom I come in contact daily. I pray in Jesus name.
Robert
