Travelling Light: Part 3 - 'Stones, Roots and Thorns'
This Sunday, Rob Lea brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC services. We encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.
Here are some questions to consider:
Readings:
Proverbs 17:9
Whoever would foster love covers
over an offense,
but whoever repeats the matter
separates close friends.
Ephesians 4:30-31
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:26-27
In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold
1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just
as in Christ God forgave you.
Prayer and Reflection:
Lord God, as you have forgiven us, help us to forgive others. We want to live with an open heart: unoffended, free from bitterness, and flowing with grace.
And Lord, we want to reconcile ourselves to those we have hurt. We pray that if we have been at fault and caused any anger or bitterness in others, that you will give us the strength to apologise and ask for forgiveness.
Amen
Questions to Consider
1. Have you ever found yourself ‘Repeating a matter’? This is when you have been deeply hurt or offended by someone and you keep replaying the event over and over in your mind. What were the circumstances? Did you resolve it? How?
2. If you answered yes to 1, did you find yourself repeating your perceived hurt to others? Did that help and did it resolve the situation? (Gossip rarely does!)
3. The bible tells us not to give the devil a foothold, (Eph.4:26-27) What are the weaknesses that you have that allow the devil to get a foothold in your life?
4. Are there any past relationships in your life that have been soured because of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness? What were the circumstances? What could you do to repair them?
5. Is there anything that friends or family do that really annoys you, even to the point of anger? What have you done to resolve this? What could you do? What will you do?
6. Is it possible that in any fractured relationship that you have, you might be responsible? If so, have you prayed about it, apologised and asked for forgiveness?
7. In 2 Corinthians 5:18 we are told that through Jesus, God gave us the ‘ministry of reconciliation’. Do you see yourself as a minister of reconciliation? What might you do today to earn that title?