But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
—Ephesians 4:15 (KJV)
Our goal as believers is to mature into the loving presence of Christ Jesus as his unified bodily presence in our divided world. This challenging goal can only be accomplished if we speak the truth — God's Spirit-inspired message (2 Timothy 3:16-17) — with an attitude of love (Ephesians 4:29-32). How can we expect to convey the message of God's love — the sacrificial love that sent Jesus to our world (John 3:16-17) — if we don't demonstrate and share that love ourselves?
Almighty and sacrificial God, please help me capture all my impure motives and ungodly attitudes and clothe them in your love. To do that, I need the purifying and transforming presence of the Holy Spirit even more powerfully present in my life each day, so please fill me and make the Spirit's fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) in my life more observable in my attitudes and actions. In the name of the LORD Jesus, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—Ephesians 4:15 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Our goal as believers is to mature into the loving presence of Christ Jesus as his unified bodily presence in our divided world. This challenging goal can only be accomplished if we speak the truth — God's Spirit-inspired message (2 Timothy 3:16-17) — with an attitude of love (Ephesians 4:29-32). How can we expect to convey the message of God's love — the sacrificial love that sent Jesus to our world (John 3:16-17) — if we don't demonstrate and share that love ourselves?
My Prayer...
Almighty and sacrificial God, please help me capture all my impure motives and ungodly attitudes and clothe them in your love. To do that, I need the purifying and transforming presence of the Holy Spirit even more powerfully present in my life each day, so please fill me and make the Spirit's fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) in my life more observable in my attitudes and actions. In the name of the LORD Jesus, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
