Knowing God, Yourself, and Others - 3 of 3

by Web Admin, 1 year ago

Knowing Others

Today's DevotionalScriptures:   

• John 13:34
• Romans 12:10
• Hebrews 10:24
• Ephesians 4:29

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Relationships are the lifeblood of our human existence. The importance of this is highlighted in Genesis by the fact that the only thing in all of creation deemed “not good” was that man was alone. Community was God’s design, how he created us and intends for us to live.

Part of living in community with others means taking the time to know them, to understand their unique strengths and struggles, and to care about them. Everyone is on their own journey and while something may not be an issue for us, it could present a stumbling block for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Awareness of others’ strengths and struggles is not meant to force us back into a legalistic system where we have a certain set of rules we abide by, but rather an invitation to have compassion for them.

We can better love and honor our brothers and sisters who struggle in different ways than we do when we know them and have an understanding of their possible pitfalls. By clothing ourselves in compassion toward others, we love others as we have been loved first by God.

Colossians 3:12-15 connects the knowledge of God, self, and others and how to live that out:

​​Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. (ESV)

As holy and beloved children, created in the image of God who is holy and loving, we are called to be kind and compassionate to others who were also created in his image. In knowing our brothers’ and sisters’ unique struggles and strengths, our actions should stem from love, promoting unity and peace in Christ.

Reflecting on Colossians 3:12-15, think of specific ways you can display compassion toward a family member or friend and put one of those into action today.

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