Tuesday, September 9, 2008

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Ephesians 4:25–5:2

PSALM OF THE WEEK: Psalm 102:1-12

HYMN OF THE DAY: CH# 2 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/o/joyful.htm or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_c_MHkba5c&feature=related

VERSE OF THE DAY: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved Children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:1-2

 

The word “Christian” literally means “little Christ”.  That is what we are to be.  How?  This passage tells us we need to speak the truth (verse 4:25), be angry about injustice but don’t join in the sin (verse 26), “do not make room for the devil” (verse 27), to not steal but to work honestly (verse 28), talk nice (verse 29), put away bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling, slander, and malice (verse 31).  We are to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving (verse 32).  In the words of verse 30, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  God has placed the Holy Spirit in us.  When we act wrongly toward one another, we grieve that spirit, and that’s not good.  Instead we need to make ourselves the living sacrifice for God (see also Romans 12:1-2).  Our life – everything we do in our entire life – is our sacrifice to God, our witness for God, and the true test of our faith in God. Live in Love (verse 5:2).

 

PRAYER: O God of Love and Forgiveness; forgive me of all the times that I haven’t lived the way you want me to and help me to be a good living sacrifice for you. Amen.

 

See you in Church Sunday,

Pastor Sandy

 

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