Morning by Morning, April 14 - “Above All” the Rancor and Unrest
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your sheep hear Your voice (John 10:27). Your children are led by Your Spirit (Romans 8:14). Let me hear You and follow You as I begin my day seeking You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...
“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:8-11).
“Above all.” Above the rancor and unrest. Above suffering injustice and enforcing justice. Above dialogue and diatribe. Above speaking out or being shut up. Above all we face and all that tries to face us down as we go through the challenges and crises of this broken and fallen world that desperately needs Jesus, give us the gift of Your grace to still “maintain constant love for one another.”
Empower us to be hospitable. Deliver us from complaining. Equip us to steward the grace of God You’ve entrusted to us to be different from the world.
Give us the heart of God so we can speak “the very words of God” (v. 11). Anoint us with the Presence and power of Your Holy Spirit to speak life instead of death, truth instead of lies, hope instead of despair, to overcome evil with good and hatred with love by the power and strength of Your Spirit that only God can supply.
Let us use the gifts You’ve given us for good and for Your glory. You’re “glorified in all thing through Jesus Christ” (v. 11) -- not by our taking matters into our own hands, but by entrusting all matters into Your hands. Not by saying, “We’re done with thoughts and prayers,” but by humbling our hearts in the humility of prayer to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that Your thoughts become our thoughts and Your ways become our ways (Romans 12:1-2).
Then when we take a stand, we’ll stand in You. Then when we speak out, You’ll speak out through us. Then when we run to the battle to fight the good fight, we’ll be fighting “the good fight of the faith” instead of finding ourselves fighting on the side of the one “who comes only to kill and steal and destroy” (2 Timothy 4:7 and John 10:10).
Every faithful and true disciple of Yours still says with a heart of humility instead of a heart of hatred, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). Then when we’ve prayed, then we can say Your words with Your heart to “turn (our) world upside down” in the power and authority of Your love (Acts 17:6). That’s the only power that ever overcome and “cover a multitude of sins” So may we be “good stewards” of the power and love of God You’ve entrusted to us and release through us in the authority and character of Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a good steward of the grace of God entrusted to you, to speak His words with His heart and fight the good fight of the faith in His ways, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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