January 6, 2022 | Our Daily Bread Today Devotional | Thursday Message By Kimya Loder (Our Daily Bread Ministries) ODB Devotional
Read: Our Daily Bread Devotional Today 5th January 2022
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TOPIC: Dealing with Disagreement
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Colossians 3:12–14
KEY VERSE: Forgive as the Lord forgave you.- Colossians 3:13
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Genesis 16–17; Matthew 5:27–48
OUR DAILY BREAD TODAY 6TH JANUARY 2022 INSIGHT
Love and unity are constant themes throughout the New Testament, and Paul highlights both concepts in Colossians. In 3:11, Paul pointed out how believers in Jesus enjoy an unprecedented unity. This is a radical unity that totally disregards traditional barriers of class and ethnic division. Instead, “Christ is all, and is in all.” Such unity is to live itself out in a radically different way: in “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12). Never has this counsel been more appropriate than today. Instead of rancorous disagreement, we’re to “bear with each other” (v. 13). This implies a patient understanding of others that grows out of an awareness that we’re not without fault either. Such self-awareness enables us to empathize with those with whom we disagree. Paul concludes: “Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (v. 14).
January 6, 2022 | Our Daily Bread Today Devotional Message:
The social media powerhouse Twitter created a platform where people all over the world express opinions in short sound bites. In recent years, however, this formula has become more complex as individuals have begun to leverage Twitter as a tool to reprimand others for attitudes and lifestyles they disagree with. Log on to the platform on any given day, and you’ll find the name of at least one person “trending.” Click on that name, and you’ll find millions of people expressing opinions about whatever controversy has emerged.
We’ve learned to publicly criticize everything from the beliefs people hold to the clothes they wear. The reality, however, is that a critical and unloving attitude doesn’t align with who God has called us to be as believers in Jesus. While there will be times when we have to deal with disagreement, the Bible reminds us that as believers we’re to always conduct ourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). Instead of being harshly critical, even of our enemies, God urges us to “bear with each other and forgive one another if [we have] a grievance” (v. 13).
This treatment isn’t limited to the people whose lifestyles and beliefs we agree with. Even when it’s difficult, may we extend grace and love to everyone we encounter as Christ guides us, recognizing that we’ve been redeemed by His love.
REFLECT: Consider a time when you were quick to criticize a friend or a stranger. What was the result? What could you have done differently to honor God and the individual?
PRAY: Heavenly Father, I know I fall short of Your glory every day. Thank You for Your unconditional love. Help me strive to be more like You by being patient and gentle with others.
January 6, 2022 | Our Daily Bread Today Devotional | Thursday ODB Message. Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread.
