Glue of Peace

Glue of Peace

Ephesians 4: ³ Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all.

 

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Seeking to “win”, we met as a team. One group was doing things different than the way we expected. We met to counter what they were doing and came up with a plan. None of us slept well when that plan failed. We were tired of the battle.

 

• I thought “I” could be right as long as I was on the winning side.
• I figured something was “wrong” with them because a group of us saw things a certain way.
• I was ready to “fight” and lost sleep because I was trying to do my part to control other people.

 

Paul urges everyone to “preserve the unity” which is given by the HOLY SPIRIT. He then explains what that looks like, just in case people were seeking a relative truth. He points to the only winning side, namely to follow CHRIST.

 

• There is one body and one SPIRIT and one hope that GOD has called me to.
• There is one LORD, one faith and one baptism to which I base my life.
• There is one GOD and FATHER of all people who is LORD of all, works through all and is in all, even a sinner like me.

 

Peace is what the HOLY SPIRIT uses to bind all of us together. I mean, when I am at peace, problems seem smaller, aches seem to go away faster and the future seems brighter. But when I feel discontent, people are a problem, circumstances seem to linger forever, I lose sleep and aches and pains nag at me.

 

Discontent seems to be the enemy of peace. This can breed in me the feeling that I need to fight or control or “lose.” BUT GOD wants me bound together with HIS family. HE knows how messy my life can be and wants me to have peace anyway so I can be unified with other messy people. I am glad GOD gives me “one” path

 

Challenge

• What “unity” is the writer speaking of?
• Have you ever looked at other people as being the cause of your problems?
• What accountability is GOD calling you to?
• Will you take “blame” or “discontent” or “rage” from your first actions and replace it with “unity” by means of “peace” from the HOLY SPIRIT today?

Oneness

Oneness

1 Corinthians 10: ¹⁴ So then, my dear friends, keep away from the worship of idols. ¹⁵ I speak to you as sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup we use in the Lord's Supper and for which we give thanks to God: when we drink from it, we are sharing in the blood of Christ. And the bread we break: when we eat it, we are sharing in the body of Christ. ¹⁷ Because there is the one loaf of bread, all of us, though many, are one body, for we all share the same loaf.

 

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We were told to get in the pool and splash around. After a while the instructor said “Stop.” Nothing happened. But when we were told to move together in a circle, something happened, the water began to move in the same circular direction and momentum picked up. Soon the force of the water was difficult to stop.

 

• I see that being one is powerful.
• I see that being one is unstoppable.
• I see that being one is incredible beyond belief.

 

Paul uses a common practice to point at something new. He spoke of the LORD’s supper as something that could be used to thank GOD for JESUS volunteering to die a bloody death. He also explains that though there are many people, we all share one loaf because we are one body.

 

• GOD wants me to desire unity.
• GOD wants me to want HIS way not my individual way.
• GOD wants me to be unified under HIM through JESUS who died for “our” sins.

 

Believing in JESUS is not enough for HIM. I mean it saves me, but what about everyone else? GOD wants all of HIS creations to be saved. HE does not take this lightly. There is nothing more important to HIM than collecting all of HIS creations.

 

Unfortunately, there is an enemy who tries to steal this message of love away and twist it into a strange message, not heard by those deafened by him. BUT GOD says “Give thanks” because a thankful heart can hear. I gladly heed the warning to stay away from idols and give GOD thanks for all HE provides.

 

• What are you thankful for?
• Do you thank JESUS for dying for your sins?
• Will you seek unity under JESUS today by surrendering your life to HIM?

One Place

One Place

1 Corinthians 8: ⁴ So then, about eating the food offered to idols: we know that an idol stands for something that does not really exist; we know that there is only the one God. ⁵ Even if there are so-called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth, and even though there are many of these “gods” and “lords,” ⁶ yet there is for us only one God, the Father, who is the Creator of all things and for whom we live; and there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created and through whom we live.

 

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Saying “Everything has its place” to me was the wrong statement at this time. I had lost my keys for the hundredth time and was exhausted looking for them. “Look in between the wall and the bed” was a soft quiet voice that came to me. There they were. “I need to put everything in its place” I finally decided.

 

• There have been times when I put my “hope” in finances.
• There have been times when I put my “faith” in “my” abilities.
• There have been times when I put my “trust” in following a celebrity.

 

Paul addresses food offered to idols. He describes an idol as “standing for something that does not exist.” Many people were holding onto “things” as reminders of their desires. These people were willing to put the entirety of their hope in something that would never come.

 

• GOD wants me to put my hope in HIM.
• GOD wants me to put my faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to put my trust in HIM.

 

Everything does have a place, one place, namely GOD. I mean, when I give GOD everything, I no longer have to worry about it. When I give GOD my family, friends, neighbors, worries, doubts, fears, excitement and praise; HE never disappoints.

 

Many humans try to be idols. The rich and the famous are followed by name. BUT GOD knows my name and that is all I need. Being known by GOD is far more important than being known by humans. I am glad I can place my everything in GOD as the one place I can trust.

 

• Are you looking for peace in your idols?
• Do you seek health from a famous idol?
• Will you turn your heart from following idols that stand for something and that do not really exist by putting your total trust in GOD who is the only one with true answers today?

Only One Needed

 

Only One Needed

Romans 5: ¹⁸ So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life. ¹⁹ And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man.

 

²⁰ Law was introduced in order to increase wrongdoing; but where sin increased, God's grace increased much more. ²¹ So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God's grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

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Wanting results quickly, I went to the store to find something to make a plant grow faster. I found what I was looking for. The directions said “Use only one tablet.” I did this but did not see the results in the time I wanted, so I added another one. A little while later the plant started growing then it died. I read the directions and it said this would happen.

 

• There have been times when I did not trust the directions.
• There have been times when I did not believe I only needed one.
• There have been times when I did not think the number one could be so powerful.

 

Paul explains that eternal death was introduced by one man committing one sin. That’s powerful. From birth, each person desires to sin. No exception. BUT GOD had another plan.

 

• GOD committed a single act of love to save me.
• GOD sent one being to die in my place.
• GOD loved me so much that HE gave HIS one and only SON to die, just for me.

 

This one act of love cost so much. I mean, JESUS gave up everything just to save me. HE showed ultimate compassion with one single act of love, namely HIS death. But the story does not stop there. JESUS was raised from the dead and placed over everything. All authority has been given to JESUS. I am glad ONE is all I need.

 

• Do you think GOD needs your money or for you to be “good” in order to be accepted by HIM?
• Are you looking at a life of sin, thinking you could never be forgiven?
• Will you stop doubting what JESUS did and simply believe HE took care of all your sins so you can enjoy a relationship with the ONE who loves you dearly?

One Job

One Job

John 17: Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ² as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴ I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

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“Open up the office” was the only thing I had to do the next day. The party was getting good, so I stayed a little longer. After the party I made it back to the room and went to bed. When I woke up, I realized I had missed opening time for the office. I raced downstairs and tried to explain, but there was no good explanation. I was fired. I only had one job to do and did not do it.

• I did not think the job was that important.
• I did not think having “fun” was a problem.
• I did not think enjoying myself would get in the way of anything.

JESUS speaks to the FATHER in plain view of HIS disciples. HE talked about the one job HE came to do being finished. But what was this one job? Was it to heal a few people or raise one or two people from the dead? It was much more than that.

• JESUS says to me “I came to give live to those who believe I provide life.”
• JESUS says to me “ I have taken care of all sin for all eternity.”
• JESUS says to me “I have been raised up to the highest esteem by the FATHER.”

Being created by GOD to tell people about JESUS is my one job. Unfortunately I spend a large amount of my time away from doing that. The FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT are the one and only true GOD. While HE forgives my sins and allows me to be distracted by the world, HE still yearns for me to hold JESUS to the highest esteem.

JESUS must be recognized and praised. The more I can do this, the more I am doing the one job HE put me here for. HE wants me to collect others to do the same, Those who believe in HIM will praise HIM forever., I am eternally grateful for JESUS who saved me from eternal death.

• What is your purpose in life?
• Do you think it is to scrounge around for more money or worldly pleasure?
• Can you stop fighting GOD and join HIM in telling people about HIS SON today?