“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV) Take a walk outdoors and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. You will quickly notice that God values order and that everything is in its place. You will see that God values variety, harmony, and unity. The nature of God’s character is exhibited throughout His creation. When you examine the human body, you will notice that balance and symmetry are valued by God. God is not a God of disorder. Chaos is not consistent with God’s nature and character. God is a God of peace. Bring that concept into your personal relationship with Jesus and assess your daily walk with Him. How would you categorize your love relationship with the Lord? Is your relationship sporadic, chaotic, and inconsistent? Or would you say that your love relationship with Christ is vibrant, healthy, and growing? One of my pastor friends would often say, “Where there is order, there is fruitfulness.” God values order in the family. Is your home an oasis or a war zone? Make adjustments in your home to reflect the order God values. Seek to work together as a family to bring order to the home and to create an atmosphere that honors God and benefits your family. Assess your schedule and be wiling to adjust your time and energy allocation. God values order in the church. Is your church unified, focused, and organized to mobilize? Be a life-giving member of your local church and be faithful in participating in worship, connecting in small group Bible study, and exercising your spiritual gifts through serving others. Give sacrificially to the Lord’s work and join God in His activity. Is there anything out of order in your life? Bring everything in submission to the Lordship of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Lead Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Harmony
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18 (NIV) God values harmony in His family. Disunity grieves the heart of God and erodes the fellowship of God’s children. Satan cannot attack God, so he chooses to attack God’s family. One of the weapons of Satan’s warfare is disharmony. God has a solution to Satan’s pollution. Ponder the consequences of retaliation. Instead of repaying evil for evil when someone offends you, choose to be kind. Extend the love of Christ and be a shining example of what it means to continue the ministry of Jesus. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet. 2:23 NIV). Let’s do what Jesus did. Retain the pursuit of righteousness. Be attentive and do what is right in the eyes of everybody. Live a life of love, a life of moral purity, and a life of impeccable integrity. Your Christian conduct should always honor God and benefit others. Your Christian conduct should honor God both in private and in public. Your lifestyle matters. Why does it matter? How you live affects your level of intimacy with God and your influence with others. When you embrace the “I don’t care what others think” attitude, you are underestimating your role as an ambassador for Christ. Address the impediments to harmony. Do your part. Keep your side of the court clean. Serve the ball by doing everything you can to live at peace with everyone. You can’t change people, but you can control how you respond to their treatment. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” 1 Cor 14:33 (NIV) Take a walk outdoors and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. You will quickly notice that God values order and that everything is in its place. You will see that God values variety, harmony, and unity. The nature of God’s character is exhibited throughout His creation. When you examine the human body, you will notice that balance and symmetry are valued by God. God is not a God of disorder. Chaos is not consistent with God’s nature and character. God is a God of peace. Bring that concept into your personal relationship with Jesus and assess your daily walk with Him. How would you categorize your love relationship with the Lord? Is your relationship sporadic, chaotic, and inconsistent? Or would you say that your love relationship with Christ is vibrant, healthy, and growing? One of my pastor friends would often say, “Where there is order, there is fruitfulness.” God values order in the family. Is your home an oasis or a war zone? Make adjustments in your home to reflect the order God values. Seek to work together as a family to bring order to the home and to create an atmosphere that honors God and benefits your family. Assess your schedule and be wiling to adjust your time and energy allocation. God values order in the church. Is your church unified, focused, and organized to mobilize? Be a life-giving member of your local church and be faithful in participating in worship, connecting in small group Bible study, and exercising your spiritual gifts through serving others. Give sacrificially to the Lord’s work and join God in His activity. Is there anything out of order in your life? Bring everything in submission to the Lordship of Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18 (NIV) God values harmony in His family. Disunity grieves the heart of God and erodes the fellowship of God’s children. Satan cannot attack God, so he chooses to attack God’s family. One of the weapons of Satan’s warfare is disharmony. God has a solution to Satan’s pollution. Ponder the consequences of retaliation. Instead of repaying evil for evil when someone offends you, choose to be kind. Extend the love of Christ and be a shining example of what it means to continue the ministry of Jesus. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23 NIV). Let’s do what Jesus did. Retain the pursuit of righteousness. Be attentive and do what is right in the eyes of everybody. Live a life of love, a life of moral purity, and a life of impeccable integrity. Your Christian conduct should always honor God and benefit others. Your Christian conduct should honor God both in private and in public. Your lifestyle matters. Why does it matter? How you live affects your level of intimacy with God and your influence with others. When you embrace the “I don’t care what others think” attitude, you are underestimating your role as an ambassador for Christ. Address the impediments to harmony. Do your part. Keep your side of the court clean. Serve the ball by doing everything you can to live at peace with everyone. You can’t change people, but you can control how you respond to their treatment. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Harmony moves the heart of God. God desires that you live in harmony with Him and with others. Live your life rightly related to God through an abiding relationship with Jesus. The byproduct of that relationship is harmony with others. You cannot have a right relationship with God without having a right relationship with others. “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:16 (NIV) Harmony is a choice. You can choose God’s way and allow Him to express His life through you. Or you can reject God’s path that leads to harmony by embracing the option that Satan presents. The enemy to harmony is disharmony. Satan seeks to poison relationships in order to foster disharmony. But, God calls believers into action. “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV) What path will you take today? Are you going to ensure harmony with God and with others? Will your conversation and conduct demonstrate a life of harmony? It’s your choice! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care