Scripture for Today: Psalm 19:10 “They are more precious than gold, than pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”

I was very surprised to see this warning sign on my walk the other day.  I proceeded with lots of caution and fortunately did not encounter any aggressive bees.  Ever since being stung on the neck as a toddler, I have been a big baby about bees.  I have not been stung since, and I attribute that to always being cautious around them.  I have a lot of respect for beekeepers and the lengths they go to extract that sweet honey.

Our verse for today likens God’s decrees to pure gold and sweet honey.  God’s commandments are sweet because they show us a better way to live, one that will lead to close intimacy with Him.  His Word is Truth and like honey, it sweetens life and makes it worth living.

The problem with honey for me is always the bees.  The Church is to proclaim God’s sweet Word, but the bees sometimes get aggressive.  At times there is a problem with everyone wanting to be the “Queen Bee,” the most important bee in the hive.  But in fact, all believers are “worker bees.”  We all serve one Lord and it is His glory we seek and not our own.

When the bees are aggressive and not getting along, the message of God’s sweet Word to others is lost.  There is enough jostling for position in the world.  We are to attract those outside the “hive” by the love we have, honoring others above ourselves (Rom. 12:10).  When I live with other believers like that, not only is God’s sweet Word heard, but my testimony is sweet as well.

I pray no one has to “proceed with caution” around me today!

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 4:2-3 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Growing up, I usually had just the smaller box of crayons.  I would look with longing at the mega box of the person next to me.  Their choices were so much more varied and their pictures just seemed better.  Not only was my box smaller but often my crayons were dull, broken or mixed up.  There was nothing like opening a bright new box!

Imagine opening a new box and finding sixty-four crayons of just one color!  It might be a very pretty bright color.  But without the others, the resulting image would lack interest and depth.  Without the others, the picture would be incomplete.

Our verse for today teaches us to keep intact the unity of the Spirit.  It is together that the Body of Christ, or the Church, functions as it should.  Each color is important to demonstrate God’s glory and design.  He created us to have different colors or gifting.  The purple does not insist on being more important and necessary than the green.  The darker colors are needed for shading.  Each member is important to God’s family.  Each gift is needed to add color and beauty to God’s design for the Church.

It takes concentrated effort to keep the unity of the Spirit.  Our tendency is to be prideful about our own color.  We get impatient and unloving with the one next to us, coloring outside the lines.  We can easily destroy unity by inciting divisions according to color!  Keeping the unity, we create something beautiful together and God is glorified.

Lord, keep me humble, gentle, and appreciative of all the “colors” You have created!

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

I never learned how to make fire in any badge-earning program or camp.  It seems like such a “macho” activity!  In learning about making fires I was surprised to see so many methods, some of which seem quite unorthodox.  The lens-based methods include the use of flint and steel, fire from ice, a soda can and chocolate bar or batteries and steel wool.  But the friction-based method is the most difficult and what usually comes to mind.  Spinning a spindle against a fireboard creates the friction that produces the ember.

Our verse for today talks about believers gathering together for the purpose of stimulating each other to show love and be involved in good works.  When we rub elbows with other believers, there can be friction.  We can rub each other the wrong way.  There can be personality differences that cause friction.  But there is a positive side to this friction.  We are stimulated and encouraged to do our best for the Lord.

The Lord knew we needed to be around other believers.  On our own we have the tendency to become lax in our Christian walk.  On our own we tend to become self-centered.  Being around believers that are living out their faith is stimulating.   Seeing the enthusiasm of believers to invest in the lives of others serves as a spark to get my fire going!  My spark may seem small and insignificant, but it can be catching.

Thank you Lord, that together we do make a difference for You.