Day 1: Peace, Gentleness, and Doing What Is Good

 When I first thought about what I was going to write today, I panicked. Do I have to wait until the end of the day to make sure that I'm really catching what God has taught me today? How do I pick just one thing that He has revealed to me? What if I screw this up? What if I have nothing to say? Oh, the questions were endless...the excuses plentiful, so here I am sitting on my bed, bible open & earphones in.

And I think I've got it.  Or, should I say, He's got it. 

Today, God brought to my mind what He has been working on teaching me for a while:  to live peaceably with all people, being gentle toward everyone.

In Titus, Paul writes:

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”  Titus 3:1-8

This is so MY story. This past year, I have been deeply hurt by people that I cared about, and thought so highly of. I wasn't sure how to react, and of course I turned to anger, as Paul writes about. I hated these people for what they had done to me, and it scared me to feel so intensely.  I wanted nothing to do with them, and I definitely didn't want to be gentle with them or live peaceably with them.

And then He stepped in, and reminded me of His mercy. I remembered everything that I had ever done to other people in the past, how I was foolish, disobedient, and enslaved by a slew of passions and desires. And, of course, I remembered that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me.

Every day, God teaches me how important it is to live in peace with everyone, to be gentle, and to devote myself to doing what is good. Often times I get stuck on the idea that I must boldly proclaim the gospel everywhere I go, whether people want to hear it or not, and I forget that the greatest thing I can do for the kingdom is to live a changed life and share it with other people.  The gospel is what saves, but a changed life that testifies to the source of it's change is what draws people in.

I am called to be a witness, and with that comes the need to do what is good while living in peace, being gentle, and showing love to anyone that God graces my life with.

He is good to me,

Lilia