"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace be with you."
2 Corinthians 13:11
The world today is full of separation. It wouldn't take very many steps from your front door to see that the world is very separated. It is important we remember how crafty the devil is to do his work of separating us from one another. Satan has been studying us for far longer than we have been alive and far longer than we have been in Christ. In fact, he is so crafty to get between us and cause separation through lies and deceitfulness, that today, we don't even have to leave our homes to see it. We all have a small rectangle in our pockets and we can log on to see the state of our world. Our world is dark! It is full of separation, lies, anxiety, worries, stresses, broken relationships, addictions, poverty, hunger, and so on. So often we strive to prove our point, and, that what we have to say about something is the right way to go about it, but here in these portion of scripture Paul encourages us. Paul doesn't tell us to strive to be right, strive to push your own agenda; rather we are told to strive for things such as restoration, we are told to encourage each other, be of one mind, and live in peace. Notice these things Paul is telling us puts others needs before our own. He doesn't say to encourage yourself, we are told to look out for the other guy. Put that person first, strive to do good to them, strive for peace with others. Having peace with others starts with patience and understanding. There will never be unity in the church without patience, encouragement, and people that seek first to listen, rather than be heard. The way world works is far different than they way we are called to follow Jesus. The world would tell you that if you want love and peace in your life, you go out there and get it, it's yours to have. But, Jesus would say, that if you want love and peace and rejoicing in your life, give it away to somebody else first! We have no power to live this way without faith in Christ. Earlier in this same chapter in verse five Paul tells us, "examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves; or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" (2 Cor 13:9) So today test yourself! Is Christ in you? Consider your thoughts and the way you are reacting to the world around you. When considering your world today, are you anxious, worried, in despair about the things going on around you? If so, then perhaps your response, should be to stop, pause, and rejoice in the Lord! And then go encourage somebody, encounter someone whom you can have restoration with, and strive for peace and unity with love and one mind in Jesus! Pray today and ask God to help you encourage someone today in love, and pray that your striving for unity will lead to peace and blessings, and love for one another. Love you all! Praying for you and yours! Have a blessed day, it's your choice!
Comments
Post a Comment