Accept One Another
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives…to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us…. What Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives!—2 CORINTHIANS 4:7, 10 MSG
“We need to shut the door to your mother’s room,” the hospice nurse explained to the family.
Bewildered, the man asked, “Why? Were we loud? Are we keeping other patients awake?”
“No, your laughter and singing in the face of your mother’s impending death offends the grieving family down the hall.”
Subdued by the other family’s reaction to their faith that spilled over in caring and loving their mother as she died, they were reminded once again that God’s message of the gospel had overflowed their earthly pots of clay. Praising God for a life well-lived, they had sung the old hymns of the faith their mother loved and sang in life, and they had read scripture to her when she could no longer read it for herself.
They hadn’t considered how their faith stood in stark contrast to the world’s reaction to death. But now they realized that what Jesus Christ had done while He was in the world, He continued to do through those who were His.
Even though we are surrounded and battered by troubles, He works in power through us to show the world who He is. Jesus lives!
Father, use my very plain vessel of clay to proclaim Your power in us. May others see Jesus alive and working in me, even in the midst of trouble and sorrow.
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (ESV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)