As Dearly Loved Children

Colossians 3:12

 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 

Ephesians 4:1-3

walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;

 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Kind of going off my post from yesterday, Pray in the Spirit, I feel like the Lord is just teaching me stuff in layers. 

I was praying this morning and Ephesians 4:1-3 came to mind, so I looked it up. A little later I checked my e-mail to see the "Verse of the Day" was Colossians 3:12, both along the same lines. It's about walking in the Spirit. 

Being called of Christ, we need to recognize whose we are, putting on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience as Colossians reads. Ephesians basically says the same thing, but mentions an aspect of endurance and that all of this is to create a bond of peace for believers. 

Scripture

So how does this tie into yesterday? The 2nd point Pastor Dan made was that praying in the Spirit births endurance. We are empowered to walk as Beloved Children of God, and not give up in this calling. This creates peace. When we are praying for one another and striving to live in peace with our brothers and sisters in the faith, we find reconciliation, understanding, and love for one another. We are willing and able to stand by one another, though we are all messy and broken. However, recognizing that we have been reconciled to God, we seek unity with one another, as we have been made one with Christ. There is no unforgiveness or bitterness that can bubble up between us, because we are seeking peace. 

Abba, 

I pray that you would bring unity to your church body, that we may see each other through your eyes, and as we have been reconciled to you, we would find reconciliation with one another. Fill our hearts with compassion that we maybe kind, humble, meek, and patient with one another. Always forgiving, because we recognize we are all in a spiritual battle. Let us not be offended with one another, but instead, look on each other with grace and be driven to prayer that your body would be given life and life to the fullest.

Amen