A NEW DEFINING TRAIT

 Today’s Bible readings are 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21, Romans 15:1-22, Psalm 25:1-15, & Proverbs 20:13-15

Romans 15:5-6

⁵ May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. ⁶ Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Did you know that drama is not the fitting kind of life that we are to live in Christ? That may blow your mind if you are like most people. It amazes me the amount of drama that church people allow in their lives.

1.      Fighting with each other over stupid stuff.

2.      Letting gossips call them & spread their venom.

3.      Getting all worked up over what people say.

4.      Making a mountain out of a mole hill.

5.      Always taking things to the place of crisis.

6.      Magnifying everything but God.

7.      Talking to everybody about everything & then getting mad when they talk too.

I remember an old tv commercial for a boot camp show that said:  “Save the drama for your mama!”  Why do we let our feeling get the best of us? Why do we let our emotions pull us this way & then that way? It is because we let our flesh control us, rather than, the Holy Spirit.  This is not fitting for those who are in Christ!!!

Romans 15:5-6

⁵ May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.

Jesus wants us to live in harmony. That means:

1.     Peace in our homes.

2.     Peace in our minds.

3.     Peace in our marriages.

4.     Peace in our relationships with others.

5.     Peace in our church.

Here is the awesome thing—IT IS POSSIBLE!!!God give us the grace & the patience that we need to live in harmony if we let His Spirit control us. Here are some tips.

1.      Pray before you act or react.

For people who have been feeling led, this is a challenge. They don’t think they need to pray. They think they need to feel. This is not the way it works in Christ. We must pray first.

2.      Put others first.

This may seem ridiculous at first BUT IT WORKS! When we put others first we are sowing good seed. Good seed leads to harmony & good harvest.

3.      Stay connected to Jesus.

I have yet to be able to live in conflict when I’m in the Vine. There is no resentment or animosity allowed in the Vine. It is give up or get out. I chose to stay in the Vine so I chose to walk in forgiveness.

Harmony is so much more pleasant that strife. It is also a great witness of the presence of Christ in our lives. That is why Jesus said that they would know we are His disciples BY OUR LOVE!!! Let’s let that be our defining trait for a change.

Pastor Richard Schlotter