As I was meditating on the thought of the oneness of God and the church, It got me thinking about how we as Christians separate ourselves on Sunday morning to worship the same God the way our particular denomination tells us to, as if God wants competition between us. This is the time to really press into God and see that when it comes down to it, the only thing that matters is if we are loving and praising Him and those we come in contact with as the word tells us. It’s gut check time. Are you complying? I’m just asking.
Today’s prayer
Father, let this be a day to show love to a dear one. As husbands, remind us to show love for our wives in a special way some unexpected surprise, time out to especially thank her for the many roles she plays to make our lives together a success. This day, as wives, teach us to be sensitive to the needs of our husbands and children. Sometimes, Lord, we are physically exhausted, but remind us that sometimes their days are like that too. Help us to see that at such times, it is more important that we all take time to share our problems than it is to have a meal on time! Oh Lord, help us as a family to appreciate each other, and to express our love for each other. Help us as parents to teach our children that we as a family need You as our center; show us how to pray together, that we may seek Your guidance for our lives, as we seek to live in Your will. In the Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
Unity in the Body
Ephesians 4:1-16
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each others faults because of your love.
Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace. We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ.
That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” Notice that it says “he ascended.” This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe. He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.
Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Quote of the Day
A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. ~William Shedd~
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY