FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - 31
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Fruit of the Spirit
Day 31 | LOVE AND UNITY
Fruit of the Spirit
Day 31 | LOVE AND UNITY
LOVE AND UNITY
1 Peter 3:8
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (ESV)
Today’s world is a mess. Our nation is in a mess too. Runaway inflation, hatred one to another, half the country wants freedom, and the other half wants to cancel and control those wanting freedom.
But, although that is what the WORLD looks like, it should NOT be what the CHURCH looks like.
Another thing making the world a MESS today is that people are afraid or unwilling to TALK to one another in a peaceful, respectful way; to hear one another’s point of view or opinion about issues.
In Peter’s time – or our own – the church often has differing points of view on various topics. It could be political, but it might also be things like: What MUSIC should we play in church? How long should the service be? Should we have women on the board? And so on. The questions could also include disagreements about theology or about eschatology (study of the End Times)… including friction regarding premillennialism, pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib positions, etc.
When you get people together, there are MANY things about which people – even good people – can disagree.
Although those various “church issues” can evoke much spirited debate, the problem is often that these “discussions” and “debates” get heated and can become divisive.
Peter recognized that and thus told us we need to have: “…brotherly love, TENDER heart, and a HUMBLE mind.”
So how do we do that if we disagree on issues of the day or even issues of theology? LOVE.
Has someone sometime said something or done something that hurt or offended you? LOVE them anyway.
It doesn’t mean you can’t reach out to them and tell them how you feel, but LOVE and a TENDER HEART will help.
Another verse tells us: “Love covers a multitude of sins.” And we have ALL sinned.
Prayer: LORD, we are living in a messy time. Help me have a LOVING attitude, a tender heart, and a humble mind towards all of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
1 Peter 3:8
“Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” (ESV)
Today’s world is a mess. Our nation is in a mess too. Runaway inflation, hatred one to another, half the country wants freedom, and the other half wants to cancel and control those wanting freedom.
But, although that is what the WORLD looks like, it should NOT be what the CHURCH looks like.
Another thing making the world a MESS today is that people are afraid or unwilling to TALK to one another in a peaceful, respectful way; to hear one another’s point of view or opinion about issues.
In Peter’s time – or our own – the church often has differing points of view on various topics. It could be political, but it might also be things like: What MUSIC should we play in church? How long should the service be? Should we have women on the board? And so on. The questions could also include disagreements about theology or about eschatology (study of the End Times)… including friction regarding premillennialism, pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib positions, etc.
When you get people together, there are MANY things about which people – even good people – can disagree.
Although those various “church issues” can evoke much spirited debate, the problem is often that these “discussions” and “debates” get heated and can become divisive.
Peter recognized that and thus told us we need to have: “…brotherly love, TENDER heart, and a HUMBLE mind.”
So how do we do that if we disagree on issues of the day or even issues of theology? LOVE.
Has someone sometime said something or done something that hurt or offended you? LOVE them anyway.
It doesn’t mean you can’t reach out to them and tell them how you feel, but LOVE and a TENDER HEART will help.
Another verse tells us: “Love covers a multitude of sins.” And we have ALL sinned.
Prayer: LORD, we are living in a messy time. Help me have a LOVING attitude, a tender heart, and a humble mind towards all of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
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