February 3rd, 2021
By Lani Cole-Mitchell
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
My devotion this week brought me to the book of Ecclesiastes and the verse you just read above which has also been transformed into the 1959 song, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by the Byrds. I was reflecting on the current message series and doing life together. We have learned of the various ways to do life together well: honor one another, encourage one another, forgive one another…and we will finish up the series with pray/serve one another and love one another. Each of these aspects of doing life together are vital to who we are and how we approach each other.
We were created, by God, to be in relationship with one another. We all know that has been quite difficult to do during a pandemic where we can’t be physically together. However, I wanted to dig a bit deeper. It’s one thing to honor, encourage, forgive, pray for and serve others when we are in relationship with them, but…
- What about those we are not currently in relationship with? Strangers?
- What about those we differ from spiritually, morally, culturally, where we do not share the same opinions? What about those who have deeply offended us?
- How do we honor, encourage, forgive, pray for and serve these individuals?
Let’s be honest. It’s easy to do life with the people in our lives who share the same opinions and ideas. We tend to gravitate towards like-minded people. It’s easier to do life together with people who agree with us and avoid conflict. I’m guilty of this myself.
In Matthew 22:39, Jesus gives us the basic instruction on how to do life with everyone: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
This does not mean to slap on a happy face and pretend that everything is ok. This means to treat everyone with kindness, respect and dignity, even if you do not agree with them. It’s not easy to do, friends; especially when we differ in opinions.
This pandemic has brought about a unique season for all of us. This season has given us…..time. We have an opportunity to utilize the time we have away from each other to focus on the people in our lives that we may have lost touch with.
“A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
This is a time where we can be vulnerable with ourselves and with each other. This does not mean that you are weak in any way. Let me be clear about that. Vulnerability allows us to dig a bit deeper and embrace what we are feeling and experiencing. It allows us to be honest with ourselves and about our relationships and to ask God to be present in it with us. It also allows us to consider what part we may have played in that broken relationship, to address it, and grow from it. This is a gift, friends!
I encourage you to use this time and season to reflect on the relationships that may be broken. Reflect on ways that you can honor, encourage, pray for, serve and love on those individuals. Ask God to be present with these relationships. Reach out and take the higher road, extend an olive branch and offer respect, love, forgiveness and kindness. Not everyone will accept, and that is OK.
The first step is always the hardest, but God is walking with you and He’s got you in this.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
My devotion this week brought me to the book of Ecclesiastes and the verse you just read above which has also been transformed into the 1959 song, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by the Byrds. I was reflecting on the current message series and doing life together. We have learned of the various ways to do life together well: honor one another, encourage one another, forgive one another…and we will finish up the series with pray/serve one another and love one another. Each of these aspects of doing life together are vital to who we are and how we approach each other.
We were created, by God, to be in relationship with one another. We all know that has been quite difficult to do during a pandemic where we can’t be physically together. However, I wanted to dig a bit deeper. It’s one thing to honor, encourage, forgive, pray for and serve others when we are in relationship with them, but…
- What about those we are not currently in relationship with? Strangers?
- What about those we differ from spiritually, morally, culturally, where we do not share the same opinions? What about those who have deeply offended us?
- How do we honor, encourage, forgive, pray for and serve these individuals?
Let’s be honest. It’s easy to do life with the people in our lives who share the same opinions and ideas. We tend to gravitate towards like-minded people. It’s easier to do life together with people who agree with us and avoid conflict. I’m guilty of this myself.
In Matthew 22:39, Jesus gives us the basic instruction on how to do life with everyone: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
This does not mean to slap on a happy face and pretend that everything is ok. This means to treat everyone with kindness, respect and dignity, even if you do not agree with them. It’s not easy to do, friends; especially when we differ in opinions.
This pandemic has brought about a unique season for all of us. This season has given us…..time. We have an opportunity to utilize the time we have away from each other to focus on the people in our lives that we may have lost touch with.
“A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
This is a time where we can be vulnerable with ourselves and with each other. This does not mean that you are weak in any way. Let me be clear about that. Vulnerability allows us to dig a bit deeper and embrace what we are feeling and experiencing. It allows us to be honest with ourselves and about our relationships and to ask God to be present in it with us. It also allows us to consider what part we may have played in that broken relationship, to address it, and grow from it. This is a gift, friends!
I encourage you to use this time and season to reflect on the relationships that may be broken. Reflect on ways that you can honor, encourage, pray for, serve and love on those individuals. Ask God to be present with these relationships. Reach out and take the higher road, extend an olive branch and offer respect, love, forgiveness and kindness. Not everyone will accept, and that is OK.
The first step is always the hardest, but God is walking with you and He’s got you in this.
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