RAISING THE DEAD. By Pastor Mark Olson

SCRIPTURE - John 11:44

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

OBSERVATION

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he’d been in the tomb four days already. When Lazarus came out of the tomb, he was alive but still covered with grave clothes and needed assistance from the others to get the grave clothes off and release him to life again.

APPLICATION

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he walked out of the tomb still covered in his grave clothes. And Jesus instructed his followers there to take the grave clothes off Lazarus so he could walk on his own. Lazarus must have looked like a “dead man walking”. He was alive – Jesus has just given him life. But he still looked like a dead man.

Sometimes, I feel like I am covered in grave clothes. I know I have a new life that Jesus gave me, but I still feel bound up by the grave clothes – the reality and consequences of my past failures. I can’t seem to go on sometimes when my past seems to rise up to haunt and entrap me. And those failings of the past seem like grave clothes binding me and keeping me from walking the walk God has called me to. What am I to do with this mess ?! How can I walk when I am bound up like this ? Jesus called on his followers to assist Lazarus to take off the grave clothes and “let him go” so he could walk and live again. How does that work in God’s kingdom ? How can I help others to shed the grave clothes of their past and allow them to walk freely in the life God called them to live. And how can I shed my own grave clothes and walk the way You want me to, Lord ? Is there a piece of this life I am missing ? Maybe my brothers and sisters in the faith are more important than I thought ? Maybe, as Paul compares us to a physical body, the other members of the body of Christ are so very much more important than I realized. We need them to help us shed the “grave clothes” – the things in our past that bind us up and keep us from walking the path God has called us to live. Maybe God is telling us we cannot live this new life without them. It is impossible to live the Christian life without my brothers and sisters walking along side and helping me shed the clothing of the grave.

There are times with I have my towel all rolled up and ready to throw it in and walk away. But I know I can’t. As Peter put it in John 6:68 “Lord, to whom shall we go?” In other words, there is no one else we can go to, no one else to lean on, no one else to worship, to follow, to give us eternal life ! We may often want to return to the grave, because walking in grave clothing is hard ! But as we learn to lean on our brothers and sisters in accountability, in fellowship and to help us shed those grave clothes of the past, we can begin to be released to live this life God has called us to here on earth.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus - Help me to walk in this new life you have given me. Help me to shed the grave clothes that may still bind me from walking fully in this life. Help me to lean on my brothers and sisters to assist in shedding the grave clothes of the past. I commit to following you, Lord. I commit to walking freely in newness of life. There is no one else, other than You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

SCARS OF HOPE. BY TJ Gorum

SCRIPTURE

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7

OBSERVATION

Scars stories are fun to listen to sometimes. Sometimes people have scars that look like they got into a knife fight but really are from something stupid like getting head butted while playing football (not me of course ;-) Other times though theses scars are trophies that come from a battle. They act as reminders of triumphs or lessons learned. The clearest picture of this would be a war hero general. If you were to look at some of the most successful combat heroes they will probably not be perfect and untouched, but rather carry brands in their flesh from near death experiences. During the time when the wound happened it was one of the most painful times in that persons life, but they experience they received from it was life changing. Some people may say that these scars are reminders of their mistakes, which may be true sometimes. However, let me ask you this question...would you rather follow a general into battle with scars on their body and experience or a unblemished inexperienced general with a perfect record? I’ll take the scared general any day. Many times I feel like we would try to answer and say both, I want a general who is proven and has no scars. Yet these generals don’t exist. The reality of life and battle is that you will get wounded, sometimes because of your own fault, sometimes because of things beyond your control. But the confidence and experience a scared soldier has is priceless. They know what works in real battle, not just what works in the classroom. When they experience victory because of their experience they learn to trust the method and not the feeling.

A first time warrior is petrified of battle. It is the nature of man to be that way. Questions and doubts flood their mind that never have before because in real life they have everything to lose. What if this doesn’t work? What if we made a mistake? What if I am wrong? They can then deviate from the plan, disqualify themselves or worse, lose faith. But the solider who has seen the battle plans in action is able to face battle with much more confidence, not just because they know what can work in battle, but because they have the scars and experience to prove it.

APPLICATION

With the Christian life it is the same. Christians who have suffered and have scars from it have way more confidence in God. Yes, when they were in the vally and suffering it was/is the hardest times in life. BUT when you see God come through in these hard times and bring you out from death you learn to trust who God is vs. what you feel. The problem with many Christians today is that we want to walk with as little pain as possible. We don’t want to suffer. We don’t want to put ourselves on the line. What we want is to talk about our great faith without ever having to exercise it. We aren’t warriors of faith anymore. We are historians of faith. We talk about what others have done.

Today I realize what Peter says that when you have proof of your faith-a spiritual scar, than it is worth more than Gold. You don’t just know about God’s faithfulness, you KNOW GOD. When you face future battles you aren’t relying on a book but rather a source of power that you know actually works. In the beginning of my walk I wanted to not suffer and know God. Now that I have suffered I found that without it I’m not sure I would have ever known Him.. Was it painful? Yes. Do I want to experience that stuff again? NO. Is it worth it and would I do it again if I knew where I would be today? YES

PRAYER

Father, thank you for being faithful. THank you for my spiritual scars. Help me to be a warrior of faith and to not be afraid to suffer and wage war for you. Help me to lead others into battle and would you prove yourself to them that they may know you. Amen.

ABOUT SUFFERING. By Kamu Sing

Scripture
1 Peter 5:8b - Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Observation
As followers, believers, disciples of Jesus, we are destined to suffer. It is inevitable that we will be persecuted by those who do not share the same belief and faith. We will be pointed at for the small things because we don’t resemble what the world looks like in the big things.
Paul writes about suffering on how we are to conduct ourselves when it comes. He doesn’t say if...it’s when. As a Christian, we are to consider ourselves blessed if we face trials of suffering because we identify with Christ.
What stood out to me is one advice that Paul gives when suffering, is to remember those who are sharing the same trials that we are all around the world. In my own experience, when I suffer, I have a huge tendency to be very inward focused. A lot of my thoughts, feelings, sometimes even actions are geared toward what is happening to me. As Paul shares this word of advice to look out, I can really see the value of focusing on how others are suffering too. This way, it helps to keep our flesh, our selfish nature, the evil in us away from the unhealthiness of thinking that life should be easy and fair and comfortable.

Application
For me personally, I feel like I’ve come to a point where suffering isn’t a surprise in life. It is a clear indicator that I must be doing something that the enemy doesn’t like. I must be in some way on the right tract. Now, I don’t want to imply that every moment of suffering means that we’re doing good or right. Sometimes God allows suffering in my life to correct too. But suffering isn’t all the time, everyday of the week. As we begin to hear God clearly and act in obedience, suffering isn’t so much a bad thing than a type of discipline that God gives to us. It’s kind of like a baby learning through trials and circumstances. When a child is doing something they shouldn’t, like trying to stick a metal object into an electrical outlet, the parent will discipline pretty severely so that the child will understand that this is not to happen ever again. The child suffers for a period of time and then learns the lesson. If that child doesn’t learn the lesson and continues in the same action, either the parent will increase in discipline or the unfortunate circumstance will take it’s place. Likewise for us as children of God. He will allow suffering to happen to sometimes teach us certain lessons.
Many of us as believers will focus on the suffering and lose sight of the lesson. As we take the first step to refrain from being inward focused, I know that there is so much to learn that God wants to show in that suffering.

Prayer
Lord, I am truly grateful for your continued Truth that allows me to remember and respond correctly. As much as I might not want to remember this lesson, it is very important to meditate on this and live it out when suffering happens...not if, but when. Thank you for guiding me where I am in my life. I look forward to more of this adventure that You’ve already set before me. I love you. In Jesus name, Amen.

THE MIGHTY EIGHT. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE
⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
2 Peter 1:5-9

OBSERVATION
This is Peter's version of the fruit of the Spirit when we truly become fully devoted followers of Christ. The change in our lives is reflected by an increase of these eight virtues. Faith is the starting point and love is the goal. In between, we need to grow in goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness and brotherly kindness. Peter suggests that they work together as one overflows over the other. The more faith I have, the more goodness I will develop. The more goodness I have, the more knowledge I will have, and so forth. The reverse process is also true. I cannot have a measure of love greater that my measure of brotherly kindness. I cannot have a measure a measure of brotherly kindness larger than my measure of godliness, and so forth.

APPLICATION
As I prepare for what has for next year and for the future, looking at Peter's mighty 8 provides me with a clear idea of who I want to become and also a strategy to accomplish that. Just like a pyramid, the base of faith must be vastly large. On top of that I must build goodness, and on top of that knowledge, etc. I think my problem is that I try to work in all these virtues separately, not as unit. I need to realize that the work must be comprehensive, one building upon each other and feeding from each other. I cannot be strong in godliness and week in perseverance. I cannot say that I lack self-control but I abound in love. Only if I focus in all eight of them and increase my measure in each one of them, I will see my life thriving and growing, giving glory to God, and showing that He truly lives in me.

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, please let me fgrow in each area of the mighty eight. Help me to understand more and more about the way each one of them build on each other and feeds from each other. I want to honor you with my life and reveal to the world that you live in me by the way I grow in your image. I love you Lord Amen!

LOVING MY NEIGHBOR. By Kim Matsukawa

SCRIPTURE:
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. James 2:8-9

OBSERVATION:
James gives instructions on how not to commit sin by the law of “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Reminding us that we need to treat everyone equal, whether they are rich or poor, have a mansion or live in a box. What a humbling thought, reminding us that as Jesus put it in Matthew 25, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:40)

APPLICATION:
I am totally guilty of giving preferential treatment to certain people. I would like to think that I have a purer heart, one that accepts everyone just the way they are, however, know that is not true. Reading this scripture with Matthew 25:40 as well as “you’re your neighbor”, reminds me that when I treat, or don’t even acknowledge those that I am not comfortable with; they too are God’s creature and I need to treat them as such.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for my selfishness of not sharing with those less fortunate as much as I probably could. Your humbling scripture reminds me that I need to love everyone equally and without thinking of what could I get out of it. I ask You for a heart of unabounding love for others who hardly get a chance to receive it. Help me to know what to do when approached and when I need to approach someone else. Amen…

TRUSTING GOD. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
<sup>Hebrews 13:5-6

OBSERVATION

The writer of Hebrews has a great sense of urgency to pass down to his readers the most important values of a fully devoted follower of Christ. Among them he points out sexual purity, hospitality, generosity, justice, and mercy. And also he has a warning about greed and loving money. He accurately describes lack of contentment as a dangerous root in our lives because ultimately steals away our trust in God's love, provision, and protection.

I recently heard Chris Rock, a well known celebrity, confessing how Americans worship money because of what it has to offer in this world. We live in a money loving society that even though has enough and more than everyone else, still is not satisfied and craves for more. If we are not careful, such mindset can invade the heart of a follower of Christ and cause him/her to have divided loyalties. Jesus said that we cannot have two masters. We cannot serve God and money. We must make a choice almost in a daily basis. And if we choose to love God above money, then we will grow trusting more and more in his provision, protection, and plan for our lives.</sup>

APPLICATION.

<sup>Currently I'm looking at the future of my family and the church. In both fields I see the potential for a greater blessing. At home, even though we have more than enough, we are looking to buy a house and we are very excited about it. However, we also must be cautious about it. Our heart is deceitful and very easy we could become ungrateful and greedy. We want to remain faithful to God and to our calling to be servants and spiritual leaders with integrity. We want to keep an above reproach lifestyle and a sense of authority when it comes to live simple lives for the sake of the gospel.

With the church we are facing a great opportunity to have more and to do more for the kingdom of God. And it's very easy to allow greed and pride to creep in. I want to lead our church in faith for great things to happen without being pretentious and arrogant. We don't want to trust in our abilities, or past experiences. We want to simply trust God and follow His direction. We want to dream for better things without being ungrateful about the current things. And by God's grace, we will have such heart coming into those important decisions.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, please give me a pure heart as I approach important decisions about my family and about your church. Please reveal any trace of ingratitude and greed in our hearts so we can get rid off it and walk into this season with a clean heart. We want to walk into better things not because we are unhappy, but because we are following you. We are happy with what you have given us, but if it's your will to have more, give me wisdom about how to walk into it and also give me grace to receive with humility what you have prepared for us. I love you more than anything!</sup>

MOMENTS LOST. By Pastor Jan Tomai

SCRIPTURE
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” 2 Timothy 2:24-25

OBSERVATION
Quarreling does not seem to solve anything. Just as Timothy shares, it renders one close to being foolish. The worst part of quarreling is how it leads to deception. The harder we fight for something, the more we think we are walking in doing what is right. Manytimes, the issue is of no consequence when compared to people hungry, hurt, and lost without Jesus.

APPLICATION
Occasionally, I find myself drawn into something that really is of no importance but here I am arguing. The arguing comes not so much from a heart-felt stance as from a need to defend myself against some invisible unknown enemy from my childhood! My natural tendency is to avoid quarreling at all costs. I grew up as a youngster with nothing but contention in my family and home. My family took pride in quarreling loudly and perversely. I ran from it then and run from it now. I am immediately hit by the futility of the situation. However, it is very important that I learn to step-back, stop feeling attacked and being defensive. Only then, will I stop running and use those words of gentleness you put in my heart.

PRAYER
Lord, speak to my heart when I feel contention in the air. Give your voice to my words that there is true humility in kindness and gentleness. Restore to me those moments lost due to my shortcomings. Thank you for bringing me out of darkness into your light.

TRUE HUMILITY. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
2 Timothy 2:20-21

OBSERVATION
Paul has a very practical philosophy of life. He believes there's two kinds of people: those used by God for noble purposes, and those who are not used for noble purposes because of their current ignoble use. Gold and silver vessels were used for very important occasions. Wood and clay vessels were used for day to day stuff. In fact, wood and clay articles were used for something dirty because Paul implies that they needed to be clean. And once the cleansing happens and the ignoble things are gone, then the vessel becomes holy in the hands of the Master and used to do good things.

APPLICATION
Without a doubt, Paul calls each one of us to a reality check about our lives. We all start in our journey with God as vessels of wood and clay, dedicated to ignoble purposes, wasting our true potential, engaged in things that the Master doesn't use. That is our nature. But such nature can be altered when we take the responsibility to cleanse ourselves. Nobody can do the cleansing for us. We need to self-initiate the process and continue keeping our lives clean from impurities.

For some reason I always thought that God will take my wood and clay and turn them into gold and silver. The problem with this mindset is that we give then room for feeling entitled, regardless of our true condition. Better being a clean wood and clay article used by the Master for good things than being a god and silver article filled with filth and discarded by the Master. I find that it is more healthy to think about my own life as wood and clay than needs to be cleansed regularly rather that gold and silver that seems to be so righteous. True humility is not defined by what others perceive in me but by what I harbor in my heart. And if I find something filthy in it, I need to cleanse myself right away from anything that would hinder me as a useful article in the hands of the Master to do good things in this world.

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for clarifying this illustration in my heart. Forgive me for the many times I felt entitled to your grace and forgiveness, having a false sense of humility, thinking that because you have used me in the past for noble purposes, automatically I will be used in the future. Help me to remain faithful and humble at your feet, always thinking about my own life as insignificant, unless you use me. Give me a clean and pure heart, and the diligence to keep it clean from the selfish and lustful desires of my youth, being always ready to be used by you, my Master., to bring glory to your name. Amen.

THE UNDESIRABLE CROSSROAD. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Titus 3:1-2

OBSERVATION

Paul's words of instruction are very clear. Even though Titus was a high ranked leader in the church, he was instructed to remind the people that God had appointed leaders above them. Regardless of their performance, such authority must be respected by displaying godly character, by being ready to do whatever is good. This is not a command to become gullible and easily manipulated by ungodly rulers. This is clearly a command to confront with respect, to respond with wisdom, not to react with emotion, to stay away from personal attacks and to focus on the issues.

APPLICATION

Very often we forget that our spiritual leaders are human beings, vulnerable to mistakes and to the distractions that this world offers. When they under perform according to our expectations, we are quick to criticize without the character Paul reminds us all of us to display. We dismiss relationship for task and we neglect love for the sake of justice. We forget that Jesus sets an example of balancing both, grace and truth. So when our chance comes to make a difference, we have a choice - to tilt the balance on the side of dishonor or on the side of what is good. Do we let our emotions rule, or we let the fruit of the Spirit to become evident?

Recently I've been experiencing this common and undesirable crossroad where a few of my leaders have made poor choices. Standing here is interesting what I can see. I can see the loyalists trying to excuse their behavior and even determined to protect and perpetuate those who were negligent. I can see the angry mob arming themselves with pitchforks to fight against them. I can see the opportunists, masters in manipulating the naive, positioning themselves sometimes from the shadows, sometimes out in the light. The funny thing is that they all think they are doing what is right. I wish I can see in the midst all of this mess more people like Jesus - those who respectfully can speak the truth in love without slandering, those who can spearhead and bring change with sacrifice, not with manipulation, and those who are practitioners of true humility. Where are they? I hope I can find them around me, but most important of all, I hope I can find one of those inside of me.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly father, thank you so much for the honor and privilege you give me to lead your people and to be led by others. As you give me the opportunity to lead, please let me reminded at all times of the right character we must have when dealing with the mistakes of those in authority over us. Let me display a true humility very similar than Jesus'. Let me speak the truth in love at all times by keeping the perfect balance between grace and truth. Give me favor during this new season in my life as I become more involved in serving your people and your kingdom. Build your character in mine. Let me be more like you. Amen!

DRESS CODE. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE

¹² Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14

OBSERVATION

As Paul declares the kind of fruit that results from a genuine faith, he uses the illustration of clothing. We put on, we wear certain things that affect the way people perceive us, but most important, reflect who we really are. Paul mentions some virtues that are consistent to other biblical passages. He talks about compassion, kindness, humility, etc. He encourage us to deal properly when others offend us. But above all things, Paul points out love as the virtue that binds all things together. Loving people in Paul's eyes is the fulfillment of all the commandments.

APPLICATION

When reading this passage I cannot avoid to see a template for my personal growth in he next season of my life. Growing in love for others is God's plan for me. The clothes I wear every single day, meaning the attitude I chose to put on in my daily affairs, are the key to be more fruitful in this area. There is nothing more uncomfortable that being wrongfully dressed for an occasion. I remember when we went to Argentina few years ago, the temperature was in the low 50's, and a bunch of Hawaiians were wearing t-shirts and slippers. I remember also attending a dinner, not following the dress code, feeling awkward, and even disrespectful towards the hosts. Certainly, in our walk with Christ and as we relate to others, we need to be extremely aware of the dress code. I cannot keep wearing the wrong attitude. I must learn from Jesus and how He dresses. He puts on the right garments, He makes others feel loved, and He truly displays the fruit of the Spirit in all His interactions.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I want to learn how to dress properly so I can be a reflection of who you are to those around me. I want to get rid of the wrong and inappropriate garments. I want to wear your compassion, your holiness, your humility, and your honesty. Let me be a man that put on your Son Jesus every day. Let me walk with Christ and as Christ in this world. Please make 2010 a year to grow in love for you and for the people you place around me. In Jesus name, Amen!

Heart Felt Living. By Pasotr Jan Tomai

SCRIPTURE
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing." Romans 6:18

OBSERVATION:
God must sometimes tire of our lives. It isn’t the thoughts that we think but the the words that we speak about others and the actions we perform that tells of this inability to overcome sin in our lives. I think that is why God gave grace to each of us--to sustain our life when we do what we do not want to do and to protect our thoughts, words, and actions toward others when they do what was not meant as an offense. Our sinful side wants to assume that others’ intentions are not meant for good.

APPLICATION:
So many times, I can think about things I have done that I did not want to do causing unintended offense. If the grace were not there, I would find life futile and un-meaningful for where would I go to find forgiveness. And, how would I keep my thoughts, words, and actions pure before the Lord when others offended me? At first it seems complicated, but it isn't. It is the daily walk to hear God and receive freely what He gives us.

PRAYER:
Lord thank you for your relentless, undeserved grace. Help me to use it with love and heart-felt intention not allowing a place for the enemy to reside in my life.

Renewing Me in Him. By Kim Matsukawa

SCRIPTURE: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

OBSERVATION: The price of Jesus paid was a high one and all that He asks for in return is a sacrifice of our body and mind to Him. He asks us to take care of ourselves and to constantly renew our minds.

APPLICATION: The season before brought me to question how much I have missed because I failed to take care of myself in mind and body. So in this season, I became more physically active and took a critical thinking class. Paddling became a great help in my ability to lose a few pounds, giving me confidence in myself. The class has allowed me to think outside of my own little world and giving me the fervor to want to learn more. Each of these things would not have been possible without knowing that God's got my back. He can help me through anything. As I continue to renew myself in Him, I yearn for more knowledge about Him.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You for being with me every step of the way. I ask forgiveness for taking so long and ask for Your continued guidance in the season to come. Thank you for this season of helping me to grow. I look forward to spending more time at Your feet. Amen

BUILDING BRIDGES. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE
⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6

OBSERVATION
In the context, Paul wants to make sure that relationships among brothers and sisters in the church are thriving and are not affected by differences of opinion in non-essential matters. The people in the church in Rome needed a message about preserving unity. Regardless of difference of style, they all could have one heart and one mouth to worship the Lord. They were making a big deal of small things, not realizing that it was causing division. Paul's sobering instruction instructs them to focus in the essentials and to grow together in their devotion for God.

APPLICATION
One of the saddest things I've seen in the church is the division that differences of opinion create when people prioritize dogma over love. I love a quote that has been attributed to St. Augustine tha says, "In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity (love)." The problem is that many times we make non-essentials the essentials. We use our personal convictions as an opportunity to grow apart. We sacrifice unity for being right. But at the end, we result being wrong, very wrong.

As I grow in my call to lead the church, I need to have much wisdom to always be a bridge builder, not a wall builder. I want to help people to get along, but also I need to get along with those who have differences of opinion with me. The tendency is to walk away and hide from them because we are afraid of their judgment, or of their attempts to convince us of their positions. I'm sure God's calling in my life is greater than that. Building bridges, especially among people that believe in Jesus Christ as God, Lord and Savior, is a noble task worth while to pursuit.

PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, please help me to always think and act as a bridge builder. Give me endurance and encouragement to build a spirit of unity among the church and other churches. Amen!