Key Passage
“Salt is good. But if the salt loses its salty taste, then you can’t make it salty again. So, be full of goodness. And have peace with each other.”
— Mark 9:50 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Jesus wants us to be people of character—people who are holy, righteous, pure and redemptive in a world that is none of those things. Jesus wants us to live in peace with each other in our local congregations as well as with other believers even if we do not recognize them as being in “our group.” Two clear commands—to be at peace and to have a godly influence on those around us—are made without equivocation. Obedience to these two important commands is needed so very much in the divided and worldly state in which believers in Jesus now find themselves.
Prayer
Holy Father, please help me exemplify the desires Jesus has for me—I want to be holy and redemptive as I live before my neighbors and I want to be at peace with those who share faith in Jesus as Lord. In Jesus’ name I ask for your help in being fully obedient to you in these matters. Amen.
Related Scriptures
Brothers and sisters, now I have some other things to tell you. We taught you how to live in a way that will please God. And you are living that way. Now we ask you and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live that way more and more. You know the things we told you to do. We told you those things by the authority (power) of the Lord Jesus. God wants you to be holy. He wants you to stay away from sexual sins. God wants each one of you to learn to control your own body.
Use your body in a way that is holy and that gives honor to God. Don’t let your physical desires control you. The people of the world who don’t know God do that. None of you should do wrong to your brother {in Christ} or cheat him in this way. The Lord will punish people that do those things. We have already told you and warned you about that. God called us to be holy. He does not want us to live in sin. So the person who refuses to obey this teaching is refusing to obey God, not man. And God is the One who gives you his Holy Spirit.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
You should know that your body is a temple (house) for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. You don’t own yourselves. You were bought {by God} at a price. So honor God with your bodies.
— 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Try to live in peace with all people. And try to live lives free from sin. If a person’s life is not holy, then he will never see the Lord.
— Hebrews 12:14
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
