I mentioned last time that one of my new brothers sent me a devotional addressing unity. This is the beginning of sharing with each other, of encouraging, and of keeping focus on what Jesus commanded us to do.
Pastor Chuck Swindoll had long been a favorite of mine for his gentle, uniting spirit, and I cannot hold a candle to his faithfulness. So I share this as having received a precious gift from a master – Today’s Insight from Chuck Swindoll, published by Insight for Living.
Titled “Striking a Chord of Harmony” Chuck quotes Ephesians 4:1-3 (abridged here just a bit):
“Therefore…I implore you to walk…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”
This was written by the Apostle Paul amidst a dispute in the early church. Chuck says:
“Lord, we realize that this is straight talk from You: ‘Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’ It doesn't win votes, but it gets attention. It doesn't promise that we'll get our way, but it teaches truth. Your way is the best way…forbid that we ever go any other way. We've tried those ways. They're all dead-end streets or, if not that, they lead into dangerous swamps.
So we pray that You will give Your people a sense of recommitment to this matter of unity and harmony and confidentiality and purity and love and tolerance and patience through Your words, gentleness, humility, in the bond of peace. May we model that unity, Lord. May we model it when we're at home, when we're in our neighborhoods, when we're at our workplaces, when we're behind the steering wheel of our cars, when we're doing business, when we're at the grocery store, when we're meeting new friends, and any other time we're given the opportunity to impact another life. Give us great harmony, Lord. As You grow us up, grow us deep. May our roots deepen as our fruit ripens.”
I would add: Lord, help to not just pray, but to obey!
Amen.
Pastor Chuck Swindoll had long been a favorite of mine for his gentle, uniting spirit, and I cannot hold a candle to his faithfulness. So I share this as having received a precious gift from a master – Today’s Insight from Chuck Swindoll, published by Insight for Living.
Titled “Striking a Chord of Harmony” Chuck quotes Ephesians 4:1-3 (abridged here just a bit):
“Therefore…I implore you to walk…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”
This was written by the Apostle Paul amidst a dispute in the early church. Chuck says:
“Lord, we realize that this is straight talk from You: ‘Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’ It doesn't win votes, but it gets attention. It doesn't promise that we'll get our way, but it teaches truth. Your way is the best way…forbid that we ever go any other way. We've tried those ways. They're all dead-end streets or, if not that, they lead into dangerous swamps.
So we pray that You will give Your people a sense of recommitment to this matter of unity and harmony and confidentiality and purity and love and tolerance and patience through Your words, gentleness, humility, in the bond of peace. May we model that unity, Lord. May we model it when we're at home, when we're in our neighborhoods, when we're at our workplaces, when we're behind the steering wheel of our cars, when we're doing business, when we're at the grocery store, when we're meeting new friends, and any other time we're given the opportunity to impact another life. Give us great harmony, Lord. As You grow us up, grow us deep. May our roots deepen as our fruit ripens.”
I would add: Lord, help to not just pray, but to obey!
Amen.
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