God designed His family to allow us to help to carry each other’s burdens, which in turn fulfills the law of Christ by maintaining our humility (Galatians 6:3). Therefore, it is important that we are mindful of keeping a clear conscience toward both God and one another (Acts 24:16).
As we imitate God, as His beloved children, we learn to walk in love, just as Jesus loved us by laying down His life for us, which was a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1-33). God calls all of us to be kind to everyone, rather than confrontational.
He exhorts us to teach His Truths, to patiently endure evil, to give no offense to our fellow believers (1 Corinthians 10:32), and to gently converse with those with whom we are in conflict. This will give one of us the opportunity to repent, because we come to understand each other’s viewpoint and perspective.
Following God’s ways helps us to come to our senses and to break out of Satan’s snare, which formerly enslaved us into obeying his will for our life (2 Timothy 2:24-26). We do not want to serve satanic plans, or to live as a stumbling block or a rock of offense to those God is calling to Himself, or to disobey God’s Word (1 Peter 2:8).
When we realize that someone has an offense against us, Jesus exhorted us to leave our gift at the altar and first reconcile with our brother or sister before returning to worship Him (Matthew 5:23-24). This keeps us from causing divisions in God’s Body.
If we readily forgive one another rather than to gossip with others, especially to those who have no influence over the outcome or who have no part in what occurred, we seek love and dwell together in unity (Proverbs 17:9). We never want to cause division in the family of God over some incident that happened to us.
Prayer:
Father God, we call on You, because we know that You will swiftly come to our rescue. You listen to our plea, and You count our prayers as sweet incense before You. Teach us to raise our hands as a sacrifice of praise to You, to set a guard over our tongue, to keep our heart from devising evil plans, and not to hang around with those who practice lawlessness (Psalm 141:1-10; Matthew 24:12).
We want to heed the warning of fellow Saints, when they see us slipping away from righteous living, because their love for us prevents us from offending You (Proverbs 10:12). Keep us from creating complications that are contrary to the doctrine You teach us in Your Word, or from influencing others to abandon their faith in You (Romans 16:17-18).
Thought for the Day:
We never want to use our freedom, given to us through Christ’s crucifixion, as a chance to feed our fleshly nature; but instead, to use it to serve one another in the love of Christ within us.
- Galatians 5:13
