Thriving Together

Hey there, it's time for another daily encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. Today's reading, titled Thriving Together, was written by So Chi Dixon. My husband Alan stood below the towering lights, illuminating the athletic field, as a member of the opposing team hit a ball into the air.

With his eyes fixed on the ball, Alan ran full speed toward the darkest corner of the field and slammed into the chain link fence. Later that night, I handed him an ice pack. Are you feeling okay?

I asked. He rubbed his shoulder. I'd feel better if my buddies had warned me that I was getting near the fence, he said. Teams function best when they work together.

Alan's injury could have been avoided if only one of his teammates had yelled out a warning as he approached the fence. Scripture reminds us that members of the church are designed to work together and watch out for each other, like a team. In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul tells us that God cares about how we interact with each other because the actions of one person can impact the whole community of believers. When we all embrace opportunities to serve each other, fully devoted to unity and peace, the church flourishes. Paul instructed his readers in verse 16 to let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. In this way, we can inspire and protect one another through loving and honest relationships, obeying and praising God with grateful hearts thriving together.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Colossians chapter 3, verses 5 through 16. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature—sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived, but now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these—anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge and the image of its Creator.

Here, there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you, and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Let's pray. Father God, thank you for using scripture to instruct us, your Spirit to guide us, and your people to keep us focused and accountable as members of the body of Christ. We pray that we would shine as a beautiful example of your love and your power to a watching world. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.