Humility and Gentleness
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Ephesians 4:2 (New Living Translation)
I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (The Message)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2 (New International Version)
Wow! Be patient and humble to our friends who fail and fall. It’s very hard to do this, so much easier for us to be critical and put them down, not to show them love and support. I want to challenge you to make a special effort today to be aware of this and go out of your way to be patient with those around you.
The Love Chapter
No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies.
1 Corinthians 13:3-8 (The Message)
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:3-8 (New International Version)
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
1 Corinthians 13:3-8 (New Living Translation)
Our Mission to the World
You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:14-16 (New Living Translation)
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (King James Version)
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)
If we live for Christ, we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. Be a beacon of truth—don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world.
Your Health
A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
Proverbs 17:22 (The Message)
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (New International Version)
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
Proverbs 17:22 (New Living Translation)
Our attitude makes such a difference in our lives. If we look at the day in doom and gloom, it’s going to be that way. If we wake up and think the day will be great, it tends to be. Having a positive attitude is good for our health and having a negative attitude will hurt your health in the long run. So let’s make this new week a positive one and be all the more healthy for it.
Overcoming the World
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (New Living Translation)
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (New King James Version)
I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.
John 16:33 (The Message)
A good friend of mine just lost his brother, other friends are fighting illness. We struggle with finances and job difficulties. In this world life is always a struggle. Fortunately God tells us that He has overcome the world so take heart, God will stand by you at all times. No matter what happens in our lives.
