Love and gentleness
Let our hearts be fixed. Let us not bear burdens of the heart, but let us sing and give praise and let us glorify God. Though the heart is sore pained, let us not bear grudge to our neighbor. While suffering the pain, let us not be a pain to others. Be free with wings like that of a dove. Fly away and be at rest (Psalm 55:6).
Let us hear the voice of God as it has echoed in all the earth, even his words to the ends of the world. Let those who carry the gospel bring tidings of good things to us. With what is preached, let us learn to heal our wounds. We ought to be light with our problems that our heart may continue to glow.
By the mercies of God, present therefore your bodies as a living sacrifice; acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:1-2-NAS).
Though we may be weak, let us build our recesses and be encouraged to be strong. Let us be new in Jesus and love without hypocrisy, abhorring what is evil; and clinging to that, which is good (Romans 12:9-New American Standard). It is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake (Romans 13:5).
By the grace of our Lord, allow the God of peace to crush Satan under your feet. Be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil (Romans 16:20,19). Praise the Lord as all the Gentiles praise him. Consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble (I Corinthians 1:26).
God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he has chosen the weak things of the world to shame those which are strong, and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that he might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God (I Corinthians 1:27-29).
We should not wrong for the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Do not be deceived neither be fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor thieves, nor covetous, and others, for they shall not inherit the kingdom of God (I Cor. 6:9-10).
God exhibited the apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because they have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. They are fools for Christ’s sake, but they are prudent in Christ; they are weak, but they are strong; are distinguished, but are without honor (I Cor. 4:9-10).
We have a life to live too and a story to make. You can be like the Apostles. Only be sure not to be like those persons in the dark. Be imitators of Paul and of Christ. Come to your neighbors not with a rod but with love and a spirit of gentleness (I Cor. 5:21). Let us speak with kindness and with the truth, as we continue to cleanse our spirit.
- Jojo I. Nartatez
