Daily Bread_December 6, 2013

Title: The Marks of a Healthy Church

Text:

Romans 12:9-16 (HCSB)
⁹ Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.
¹⁰ Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.
¹¹ Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord.
¹² Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.
¹³ Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
¹⁶ Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Observation:

The Apostle Paul encouraged the believers in the Church at Corinth to not only use their gifts, but to use them in a manner that would glorify God, and are a blessing to others.

In my professional career I was a facilitator of the Stephen Covey leadership training program "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". I used this illustration to teach the power of forming good habits.

"H A B I T = If you get rid of the H you still have A B IT;

You get rid of the A you still have B I T;

You get rid of the B you still have I T;

It's just hard to get rid of the H A B I T."

This lesson can be applied to today's text; let's make these virtues a part of our life; the result will be healthy Churches.

John 13:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

In the Body of Christ we have a mission to accomplish; a ministry to fulfill. This task is so much easier when we work together in unity; in an atmosphere where we serve devotedly and gladly. This is love in action.

John 13:34-35 (HCSB)
³⁴ "I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.
³⁵ By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that the world will know that Your people belong to You by the way that we love one another, and the spirit of cooperation they see in us doing the Lord's work. Lord, may Your people abound with love and joy. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)
⁵ Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/