Colossians 3:13-15 NLT
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
– We have a worldwide pandemic.
– We have protests happening in our streets.
– No one wants to listen to the other side.
– The world economy seems to be collapsing, with businesses unable to function like normal.
These are the time that we have been made for.
With everything seeming to be melting down around us, what do we do?
The first thing I would suggest is to make yourself right with God. And the only way that happens is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Acts 4:11-12 NLT
For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
John 14:6 NLT
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
From there, we need to know who we are in Jesus Christ.
Doing this is most effectively achieved by studying the Word of God. We are called to study and meditate on the Word of God daily, and this is a command.
Joshua 1:8-9 NLT
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
With the study of the Word of God, we will learn God’s Will for our lives and be better prepared to help those around us.
John 15:4-8 NLT
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
“But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you,”
Remaining in Jesus and His Word requires an intentional effort on the part of the Christian.
For the Christian, living life separated from the Word of God is like trying to breathe without oxygen.
And the result is:
John 15:1-2 NLT
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
Only a life submitted to Jesus immersed in the Word of God will bear fruit.
Colossians 3:16 NLT
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
And this is the result of a life submitted to Jesus and His Word.
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
This way of living will result in better relationships with those around us.
For the Christian, we are called to “make allowances for each other’s faults.”
“Forgive anyone who offends you.”
We tend to defend our identity, but when we have our identity grounded in the Word of God, we don’t need to defend that.
My identity is that I am a sinner saved by the grace of God by the work of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for my sins. He was buried and rose again on the third day. And I now have eternal life in Him.
I thank God for that every day.
In light of that, I am to extend that grace to those around me.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die for my sins.
I pray that with every breath that I take, You keep me focused on Your will for my life and that I extend Your grace and compassion to the world that I can effect.
I pray that You give me the desire to continue to seek You out above all else. And that my life will glorify You in every way.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
