40 Days Blog - Day 34
So how are we as broken, sinful beings to get on with each other. Is there any hope?
Here is a list of things to ‘wear’. This list is not as famous as the Fruits of the Spirit, but just as useful to apply to life.
In recognising our shortcomings, and failures (yesterday), we are able to put on humility, to wear our gentleness. We can bear with each other and have patience.
Love and peace are above and below it all. In our modern world we are often told that love is accepting people just as they are. The love here is different. It is knowing that we are all sinners, we accept that we are not perfect, along with everyone else. And so we draw together in unity.
We are given two tools to help us to help us bear with each other.
God’s word - let it dwell inside you, so you can be wise and give good counsel. Sometimes we need someone to point out where we are going wrong. Often, we ourselves know what we are doing, but having someone point it out helps us not just pretend it’s okay.
If you come to me with
your criticism, I can certainly ignore you. If you come to me with criticism from the
word of God that is a different matter. God’s wisdom must be listened to.
Psalms, hymns and songs - three titles that point us to poetry. They are the three titles used in the book of Psalms for the songs there. While teaching and admonishment reach your head, poetry reaches the heart.
It must be hard for ministers at times. Preach a mighty sermon of how God looks after His people in good times and bad, and they see it make some impact. Singing the
23rd Psalm reaches much further, much faster. He is our Shepherd in the lush green pastures, and He is our Shepherd when we walk through the shadow of death.
When my grandmother passed to glory after decades of dementia, the songs and poems she learnt in her youth were among the last things to go. Children, learn the songs of God that bring you joy and comfort, and they will stick with you.
So, let us deal with each other with the wisdom of the word, and the gentleness of song. And do it all in Jesus’ name.
A Psalm
Psalm 119:97-104
Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
Amen.
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