Grow. Pray. Study. Daily Guide from the United Methodist Church
of the Resurrection Thursday, 2 January 2014 – “Forgiveness, love and peace”
Daily Scripture: Colossians 3: 12 As God’s chosen ones, holy
and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness,
and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against
another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[a] has forgiven you, so you also
must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything
together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16
Let the word of Christ[b] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another
in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs to God.[c] 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Footnotes:
a. Colossians 3:13 Other ancient authorities read just as Christ
b. Colossians 3:16 Other ancient authorities read of God, or of
the Lord
c. Colossians 3:16 Other ancient authorities read to the Lord
Reflection Questions:
As Colossians described the qualities of truly holy living, the
letter didn't say we are "called into an organization," but
"called in one body." The image suggests that Jesus connects us to
each other organically, like a leg or arm joined to a body. We see some of that
grace amid all the comical Griswold family confusion in Christmas Vacation.
When elderly Aunt Bethany confusedly said the Pledge of Allegiance rather than
grace, Clark simply said, "Amen."
About year 100 of the Christian Era, Pliny, a Roman official,
wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan calling Christianity a crime, and asking how
best to stamp it out. It was clear that Christians' ultimate allegiance was to
God, not Caesar, as their ruler. Which parts of this passage most describe your
life as a Christ-follower? Which challenge you to keep growing?
Christian music didn't start with Resurrection's music
ministries, Amy Grant, Fanny Crosby or even Charles Wesley and J. S. Bach! The
very first Christians shared "psalms [Israel's traditional music], hymns,
and spiritual songs [probably newly written]." When has music drawn you
closer to others who share your faith, and filled your heart with gratitude to
God?
Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father, shape my heart more and more each day to live a
life of "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." I
can't do that alone, but you promise to remake me in your image—and I thank
you. Amen.
Thursday, 2 January 2014 – Insight from Celicia Hiatt
Celicia Hiatt is a Coordinating Assistant in the Guest Services
Ministry at The Church of the Resurrection, serving as a crucial member of the
team that helps visitors and members of the church get plugged into the life of
the church.
Something I can bet we all have in common is that someone,
somewhere in the journey of our lives has hurt each of us. It’s inevitable.
Since that poor food choice Eve made, we have been imperfect creatures fumbling
around this earth with the weight of sin riding around on our backs like a
little circus monkey (yes, I imagine him wearing a fez). So, as Christians, how
does God call us to handle anger and hurt? Forgiveness.
I have to be honest—sometimes I despise that word because it is
so hard. It is the exact opposite of what I want to do in those moments when
someone hurts me. In Colossians 3:12 God tells us to clothe ourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And I’m left asking,
“Won’t all those layers make me look fat?” The answer is an overwhelming NO!
Stepping up and wrapping ourselves in these beautiful things will leave us
looking nothing short of stunning. How different would our world look if every
time a person had a grievance, they answered it with compassion or kindness?
In the interest of full disclosure, I need you to know this is
something I struggle with day in and day out. I have suffered a lot of hurt
over the years, and sometimes it feels so good to lob the hurt right back…for
about 30 seconds until I realize that’s not the person I want to be or who God
is calling me to be. That doesn’t mean I play doormat, but it does mean I don’t
have to strap on my circus monkey and act in a way that doesn’t honor God.
Recently my best friend Jilian gave me some food for thought.
After a hurtful argument with someone in my life, I so badly wanted to respond
in a hurtful and snarky way that would hurt them as much as they had hurt me.
After I expressed that, Jilian said, “I want you to imagine that the devil is
in the room with you right now.” I cut her off and said “OK, Jil, that is
completely creepy. Thanks for that visual and for forcing me to sleep with the
lights on tonight.” She laughed and finished with, “I want you to imagine that
he is cheering on the ugliness, finding joy in your misery…and you’re letting
him.” Her analogy really made me think about how the antithesis of dark is
light. So how do I fight hurt? With forgiveness. That is how God ultimately
saved us from sin, through forgiveness and the gift of his son. As we embark on
this New Year, let’s all try and do the same. I am willing to bet the more we
fight the dark with light, and the hurt with forgiveness, the more our side of
heaven will begin to look like our Father’s.
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United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, KS 66224 United States
(913)897-0120
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