Precious Moments That Count For EternitySample

The Bond of Peace

We all know the story of a farmer who taught his quarrelling sons a lesson about unity. He called them all together and asked them to break a stick. They accomplished this task easily but when he asked them to break an entire bundle of sticks, each and every one of them failed to do so. From this story comes the popular saying: ‘United we stand, divided we fall’.
Similarly, we are the children of the most High God. This is the same God who made the heavens and the earth and who crafted us on the palm of His hand. If we serve such a magnificent God, shouldn’t we behave and respond to His greatness in a manner worthy of mention? Yet when we have disagreements with a fellow Christian, it is easy for us to react harshly.
There are bound to be misunderstandings within the church today but it is important to remember to be:
• Humble: To show modesty in calculating your importance. Proverbs 3:34 (NLT) says, “The LORD mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble.”
• Gentle: To be slow to resort to violent behavior and to be of mild temperament.
• Patient: Galatians 6:9 (NIV) says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
• Bear with one another in love: To be loving in your interactions with your Christian brothers and sisters.
Responding in the above manner might not be easy but our strength comes from our God who will delight in your obedience and grant you the ability to be all that. When you behave in this godly manner, you can be assured that the Holy Spirit will move and work to maintain the bond of peace within the church.

Prayer
Father, help me to be humble, gentle, loving and patient. Grant me the strength to be loving towards my brothers and sisters in Christ so that together we might accomplish kingdom goals that You have laid out for us. Amen.