Tag: holy kiss
Importance of love and unity!
Scripture reading for June 14th: Proverbs 19-21, Psalm 40, Romans 16
Romans 16: 16-20 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. I appeal to you, brothers to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under you feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
Paul’s final thoughts for the Romans including greeting many of the believers by calling out their names and what he was thankful for in their lives and service to Christ. He encouraged unity and love to flow genuinely between believers and emphasized that all churches greeted them in the same Spirit of Christ But the leadership needed to be watchful over the church for those who had other motives and caused divisions through twisted doctrines and legalism. Paul did not want the division to sow strife and evil talk and accusations in the church. God was and is a God of peace and it is Satan behind the division. Through grace and peace and unity, God would soon crush Satan under those believers feet! (And ours!)
Psalm 40:4 “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!”
Prayer: Father God, I have made You my Trust and value Your Word as truth. Help me to live in unity and harmony with each member of Your Body, the Church. Help me to watch out for those who are divisive and do not follow sound doctrine but are greedy and follow their appetites. As we pursue You and the truth of Your Word, we trust You to crush Satan under our feet as we walk with You.
Proverbs 21:21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor.”