Bible League: Living His Word Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!— Romans 12:16 NLT Our verse for today lists three things we should do in order to get along with people, especially people who are members of the church of Jesus Christ. First, we should live in harmony with each other. What does it mean to live in harmony? In music, harmony occurs when there is a simultaneous combination of different notes or tones that blend well together, that sound pleasing together. So, likewise, harmony in the church occurs when there is a simultaneous combination of different people that blend well together, that work well together. According to the Apostle Paul, harmony is something that we should strive for -- finding a place in the church that fits well with what other people are doing. And like the tuning peg of a violin, we should be willing to adjust ourselves to other people so that harmony is achieved. Second, we should not be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. After all, most people are ordinary people. To avoid them would be to cut ourselves off from most people. We cannot harmonize with people we are avoiding. Further, cutting ourselves off from most people is to cut ourselves off from what is actually going on in the church. If we live in an elite bubble that is out of touch with the church as a whole, how can we help our church grow? Our pride and elitism will have prevented us from finding out how to serve and create the desired harmony. Finally, we should not think that we know it all. No one likes a “know-it-all” who thinks that they are above everyone else. This kind of pride will also lead to a failure to harmonize with people, and it is also a failure to enjoy ordinary people. After all, how can there be harmony with, and enjoyment of, ordinary people if a person thinks that he is the only one with worthwhile ideas? For the most part, it is pride that keeps church members from harmony. Family relations, socio-economics, and education can divide us if we are not careful. What Paul is essentially saying in our verse for today is that we should forget pride and love and serve one another from the heart. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNehemiah 4, 5, 6 Nehemiah 4 -- Work on Walls Is Ridiculed; Opposition Overcome NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Nehemiah 5 -- Nehemiah Abolishes Debt, Mortgage, and Bondage NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Nehemiah 6 -- Sanballat's Plot; Completion of the Wall NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 2:14-47 Acts 2 -- The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost, Peter Preaches, Believers Gather NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.Insight Jesus turned the world's values upside down. Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world. How many got where they are by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle? Not many! But in the life to come, the last will be first—if they got in last place by choosing to follow Jesus. Challenge Don't forfeit eternal rewards for temporary benefits. Be willing to make sacrifices now for greater rewards later. Be willing to accept human disapproval, while knowing that you have God's approval. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 12:1 Help, Lord.The prayer itself is remarkable, for it is short, but seasonable, sententious, and suggestive. David mourned the fewness of faithful men, and therefore lifted up his heart in supplication--when the creature failed, he flew to the Creator. He evidently felt his own weakness, or he would not have cried for help; but at the same time he intended honestly to exert himself for the cause of truth, for the word "help" is inapplicable where we ourselves do nothing. There is much of directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of two words; much more, indeed, than in the long rambling outpourings of certain professors. The Psalmist runs straight-forward to his God, with a well-considered prayer; he knows what he is seeking, and where to seek it. Lord, teach us to pray in the same blessed manner. The occasions for the use of this prayer are frequent. In providential afflictions how suitable it is for tried believers who find all helpers failing them. Students, in doctrinal difficulties, may often obtain aid by lifting up this cry of "Help, Lord," to the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher. Spiritual warriors in inward conflicts may send to the throne for reinforcements, and this will be a model for their request. Workers in heavenly labor may thus obtain grace in time of need. Seeking sinners, in doubts and alarms, may offer up the same weighty supplication; in fact, in all these cases, times, and places, this will serve the turn of needy souls. "Help, Lord," will suit us living and dying, suffering or laboring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In him our help is found, let us not be slack to cry to him. The answer to the prayer is certain, if it be sincerely offered through Jesus. The Lord's character assures us that he will not leave his people; his relationship as Father and Husband guarantee us his aid; his gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing; and his sure promise stands, "Fear not, I will help thee." Daily Light on the Daily Path Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.Psalm 16:1,2 A Mikhtam of David. Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You. • I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good besides You." Matthew 6:7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Matthew 18:19 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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