Divine Note #54 – July 17, 2010
Choose the most loving response – Colossians 3:13-14
Colossians 3:13-14 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.
Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit has been the most rewarding yet challenging way of life for me. The Christian life is undoubtedly the best life one can ever live, but I am here to tell you that I do battle with my flesh and my heart many times. Lately I’ve been thinking of the importance of relationships. Our lives are made up of relationships with family, friends, coworkers, business associates, acquaintances, neighbors, service providers, government agencies and all who are not covered in those categories. I’m going to keep this note short by focusing on family and friend relationships. But I will be writing more on the topic.
Relationships are complicated. Families are destroyed because people do not honor commitments. Friendships are devastated when people misunderstand each other’s intentions. It seems like we hurt those people who are dearest to us.
Put up with each other – v 13
Last Sunday I heard my pastor’s sermon message loud and clear – I must choose the most loving response. My heart had been anxious over a complicated friendship. I had not chosen the most loving response, so my heart was unsettled. I am so glad that I decided to go an extra step in an attempt to resolve the situation. I received clear resolution from God as a result of taking that additional step of faith.
Love is what ties everything together – v 14
A few months ago, I had a health scare that landed me in the emergency room and I was hospitalized for a day. I was pleasantly surprised that someone who is very important in my life showed up to be with me. We had not talked in months. I was shocked because this person took unplanned time off from work and spent the entire day with me. Needless to say, I felt that loving bond between us and I feel blessed that this wonderful person cared enough about me to do this.
Press on and try again
Philippians 3:12 I have not yet reached my goal and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep running and struggling to take hold of the prize.
I get discouraged that I sometimes fail when it comes to choosing the most loving response in my relationships. But I remind myself that most of the people whose stories are told in the Bible were flawed – just like you and me! The best example is the Apostle Paul. I love the Scripture from Philippians about his struggles because isn’t this what the Christian walk is all about? We do our best to stay connected to God, but he understands that we are not perfect. Many of us struggle with relationships yet they give our lives meaning.
When it comes to those closest to me, I’m going to do the following:
• I will not take the easy road out – I will put up with those I love because in the case of my family, they also didn’t get to choose me and they put up with me, too! :)
• I will forgive just as Christ has forgiven me. Forgiveness is another topic that I plan to tackle. It’s important to forgive because we don’t want to stay captive to unforgiveness.
I want to make it clear that I’m not talking about putting up with abusive relationships. Those fall into a category where you must take appropriate, firm action.
Let Christ take hold of you
Most importantly, I have vowed that I will not get discouraged when I fail at being a good daughter, sister, mother or friend. The important thing is to stay connected to the Lord and make my relationship with him the priority of my life. He has taken hold of my life, and it’s up to me to represent him well. You and I must guard and cherish the people around us. This can only happen when we handle relationships the way our precious Lord would—with love, tenderness and respect.
I would love to hear how you navigate the world of relationships. Tell me your story.
Big God Hugs!
Blanca
Choose the most loving response – Colossians 3:13-14
Colossians 3:13-14 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.
Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit has been the most rewarding yet challenging way of life for me. The Christian life is undoubtedly the best life one can ever live, but I am here to tell you that I do battle with my flesh and my heart many times. Lately I’ve been thinking of the importance of relationships. Our lives are made up of relationships with family, friends, coworkers, business associates, acquaintances, neighbors, service providers, government agencies and all who are not covered in those categories. I’m going to keep this note short by focusing on family and friend relationships. But I will be writing more on the topic.
Relationships are complicated. Families are destroyed because people do not honor commitments. Friendships are devastated when people misunderstand each other’s intentions. It seems like we hurt those people who are dearest to us.
Put up with each other – v 13
Last Sunday I heard my pastor’s sermon message loud and clear – I must choose the most loving response. My heart had been anxious over a complicated friendship. I had not chosen the most loving response, so my heart was unsettled. I am so glad that I decided to go an extra step in an attempt to resolve the situation. I received clear resolution from God as a result of taking that additional step of faith.
Love is what ties everything together – v 14
A few months ago, I had a health scare that landed me in the emergency room and I was hospitalized for a day. I was pleasantly surprised that someone who is very important in my life showed up to be with me. We had not talked in months. I was shocked because this person took unplanned time off from work and spent the entire day with me. Needless to say, I felt that loving bond between us and I feel blessed that this wonderful person cared enough about me to do this.
Press on and try again
Philippians 3:12 I have not yet reached my goal and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep running and struggling to take hold of the prize.
I get discouraged that I sometimes fail when it comes to choosing the most loving response in my relationships. But I remind myself that most of the people whose stories are told in the Bible were flawed – just like you and me! The best example is the Apostle Paul. I love the Scripture from Philippians about his struggles because isn’t this what the Christian walk is all about? We do our best to stay connected to God, but he understands that we are not perfect. Many of us struggle with relationships yet they give our lives meaning.
When it comes to those closest to me, I’m going to do the following:
• I will not take the easy road out – I will put up with those I love because in the case of my family, they also didn’t get to choose me and they put up with me, too! :)
• I will forgive just as Christ has forgiven me. Forgiveness is another topic that I plan to tackle. It’s important to forgive because we don’t want to stay captive to unforgiveness.
I want to make it clear that I’m not talking about putting up with abusive relationships. Those fall into a category where you must take appropriate, firm action.
Let Christ take hold of you
Most importantly, I have vowed that I will not get discouraged when I fail at being a good daughter, sister, mother or friend. The important thing is to stay connected to the Lord and make my relationship with him the priority of my life. He has taken hold of my life, and it’s up to me to represent him well. You and I must guard and cherish the people around us. This can only happen when we handle relationships the way our precious Lord would—with love, tenderness and respect.
I would love to hear how you navigate the world of relationships. Tell me your story.
Big God Hugs!
Blanca
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