How difficult do you make this?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
(Romans 12:16 (NIV))

This passage is taken out of a section that many translations refer to as “Love in Action.”

Think about that concept for a moment. Are you able to put these words into action?

Do you strive to live in harmony with others, both believers and nonbelievers? I realize that it is easier to do this when you are dealing with someone who shares your beliefs, but we are called to show love to everyone. How do you live in harmony with someone who takes great pleasure in taunting and tormenting you because of your faith?

Then there is pride! It is a nasty human trait. We can’t even get a job without having to convince someone that we are better than anyone and everyone else. What happens if you start to act like you truly believe this about yourself? Do you begin to develop tendencies to elevate yourself at the expense of others? Is this how we are called to show love?

As a member of the Body of Christ, we must remember that we were shown love when we didn’t deserve it. We must remember that we were shown grace and mercy when we didn’t deserve it. All too often, we do not show love as were are called to show love. Sadly, many times we show the exact opposite and we make it difficult for others to see Jesus in us or through us.

How difficult do you make this?

Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Are you in His light?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
(1 John 1:7 (NIV))

There is a song by DC Talk that is based on this verse. The first few lines of the song say:
I want to be in the light as He is in the light
I want to shine like the stars in the heavens
O, Lord, be my light and be my Salvation
All I want is to be in the light*

All I want is to be in the light! That should be the desire of everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Basking in the light of God’s grace and mercy is the ultimate reward for all of us.

How can we walk in this light without radiating the light to others whom we meet? If we truly desire to be “in the light,” then this light will reflect off of us in much the same way that the moon reflects the light of the sun. The moon has no light of its own, yet it lights the darkness because it reflects the light of the sun.

We should also reflect the light of the Son into the darkness of this world.

* Copyright Forefront Communications

Copyright 1998 – 2015 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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