[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Friday July 1, 2005

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions Friday July 1, 2005

This week's e-devotions are being written by Pastor Ludwig and based upon
Ephesians 3: 12-15

 

Colossians 3: 12-15 (The Message)

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God
picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength,
discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an
offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And
regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose
garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with
each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your
own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. 

 

Thought

The one spiritual garment that is the key of the wardrobe is love. But let
us be clear from the start, this love of which Paul writes is not the love
that we are born with and taught by family, friends and culture. The love
that we are modeled by others is reciprocal love. It is easy to love those
who love you. It is natural to love people who give you good feelings or
arouse exciting emotions.

The love of Jesus is unnatural and goes against our basic instincts. His
love calls us to love our enemies (a rather unpopular thought in America
these days) and to pray for those who persecute us. That is what he did and
continues to do for us. He loves us even when we don’t love him back. His
highest concern is for us even when we are hostile and arrogant and willful.
He calls you to love in the same way you have been loved by him.

Regardless of what else you put on, put on the love of Jesus and see where
that takes you today. You might look a bit out of fashion, but what
excitement you will generate. 

 


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.8/35 - Release Date: 6/30/2005
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /pipermail/dailydevo_zlc-aa.org/attachments/20050701/adc1def9/attachment.htm