There is a story a lot of you may remember from childhood. It goes a little like this: The sun and the wind were talking and the wind said to the sun I bet I can get that mans coat off and you can’t. The sun said ok you go first. The wind blew hard, whipped up a fury but the man just tightened his grip on his coat. Then it was the suns turn. He shined beautifully and the man began to get warm and soon the man took off his coat.
James 4:1-3 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss; that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruits of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Peter 3:10-12 For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commands.
Lord, thank You for Your word! Thank You for You mercy when I fall so short of it. Lord, forgive us and bring us back to the truth of Your word, Your will, Your way. Give us a hunger and a thirst to know and understand and walk in Your way. May we hear this is the way walk in it when we begin to stray from Your word that we may shine as a city on a hill to bring You glory. Please turn our ears from worthless things. In Jesus name amen.
