1. What word or phrase in today's reading speaks to your heart?
(v. 18) "so as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (NIV)
(v. 3)"Do not think you are better than you are...amount of faith God has given."(NCV)
(v. 10-12)"Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. Do not be lazy but work hard."(NCV)
(v. 21) "Do not let evil defeat you but defeat evil by doing good." (NCV)
2. How does today's reading directly relate to your life right now?
(v. 18) all strained relationships (church, family, friends, etc.)
(v. 3) an ego/pride check. I shouldn't judge where people or I'm at.
(v. 10-12) Humility/reality check. Stop being selfish and lazy. Do better.
(v. 21) relationship with God is on the rocks. Things can/will change.
3. How is God calling you to respond to what you've read today?
(v. 18) Stop being so closed off from the world. Open up and love/have compassion for all people.
(v. 3) No sin or mistake is greater than the other. all equal in the sight of God.
(v. 10-12) Work harder. Practice more SELFLESS-ness
(v. 21) God is GREATER than all trials, problems, and situations. Stop being defeated.
4. Your own additional thoughts/meditations:
(v. 18) many rumors and one-sided stories have been secretly shared and spread like wildfire. There are also feelings and beliefs/thoughts held back/not shared. Relationships with one another won't ever be perfect. I'm afraid of facing conflict and feeling hurt. I also hate to be burdensome so I keep everyone at a distance. A mechanism I use to protect myself and the other person. Everything is bottled in or filtered. this is clearly unhealthy. LOVE is the solution that lead to PEACE.
(v. 3) Although everyone is going through different struggles and dealing with different sins. nobody is greater or worse than anybody else. Reality and Ego check. We are all equal in the eyes of God and He doesn't love any person more than the other. We should learn from His example and not be so judgmental or selective. FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE. And the greatest of those 3 is LOVE.
(v. 10-12) Serve God and others more than yourself. Be more SELFLESS. Spread His love by serving and respecting others. Great and mighty things can/will be done when hard work/effort overcome laziness. FOCUS on God and the goal He has set for you.
(v. 21) I don't want to live a defeated life when I am a child of the Almighty and Victorious One. I'm sick and tired of being tired. I'm done wasting time. I need to change. He wants me to change. This relationship has been neglected long enough. In order to fix the rest of my life, I need to address and renew my source of life. He is the reason for my being. I need to start giving Him the justice and love He deserves. It's the least I can do.
