April 1st - Reflection

Ephesians 5:1-9 (NRSV)
Now in the Lord you are light
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

Reflection
We have something very precious in common. We have our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in common. Therefore we are created in the image of God, saved by God in Jesus, gifted by God through the Spirit and sent into this world to praise and honor God and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people through Word and Action.

With this in mind we should respond to one another in like love and compassion and respect and understanding.

But the forces of sin creep in and we tease to the contrary or we compete unnecessarily. Instead of building one another up we tear one another down so that the other looks good. Stop it! Stop it and change the talk.

It's time to unite and live a life in love and respect of one another, both saved and the lost. All are children of God. God's good creation. Walk with all peoples and join in with your own hymn of salvation through Christ. Give the respect to work side by side with those in need. Understand that we all have some life situation that is a struggle and help one another. Celebrate those life situations, we all have, that are blessings, and love and understand each other.

"Live as children of light for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true."

Prayer
Lord, I hear your Word which, for me, sometimes is so hard to live. Teach me, guide me and change me, to live a life of love and respect for all people and all creation...today...tomorrow...and forever. --- Amen