Esteeming One Another

Esteeming One Another TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us… Ephesians 5:2, AMP. TODAY'S WORD: We don’t often hear the world esteem very much in our culture, but the Bible tells us to esteem and delight in one another. One definition of esteem is to hold in high regard. That means we are to honor and value one another and hold them in high regard, even if you don’t always agree with them. Sometimes people think, “That person doesn’t act honorably, so why should I honor them?” But the truth is, we are to honor and esteem people because they are valuable in the eyes of God. If you had a very costly and valuable piece of jewelry, you wouldn’t just wear it to the gym or leave it on the kitchen sink. No, you would treat it carefully. You would put it in a safe place and protect it. It’s the same way with people. When we see others as valuable the way God sees them, we treat them carefully. We speak respectfully. We look for the good in others and honor them for who God made them to be. This holiday season, choose to esteem and delight in one another. Sow good seeds into your relationships and see a harvest of blessing in every area of your life! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Heavenly Father, today I choose love. I choose to honor the people around me. Help me to see value in others. Help my actions and words to esteem and delight in them so that I can be an example of Your love and light in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Reason to Celebrate

 

by Rick Warren

“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

A few years back I was in Manhattan during the Christmas season. I remember standing in the middle of Fifth Avenue, watching thousands of people bustling around. Nobody looked happy. Everyone looked pressured, stressed, and cranky. That’s not what Christmas is about. Christmas is about the greatest news ever! Our preparation and celebration should be joyful, not sad.

What did the angel say to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus? “I bring you good news of great joy, and it’s for everybody.” But what is that great news? What are we supposed to celebrate?

First, God loves you. The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV). That’s why he sent Jesus. He was on a mission of love.

The Bible says God is love. It is his nature. God created the entire universe just so he could create the human race, just so he could create you, just so he could love you. God made you to love you. And his love isn’t based on what you do. His love is based on who he is. God is love.

Second, God is with you. You may not feel his presence, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The Bible says Jesus’ name was to be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Many of you have been abandoned in life, but you need to know that God will never abandon you. Jesus truly was “God with us.” And he is still with us today.

When God is near, it removes your fear. You don’t have to worry or be anxious about what’s coming next.

Third, God is for you. He’s on your side. He wants you to succeed. In fact, Jesus said this: “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17 NLT). Many people are afraid of God because of their guilt. But the Bible says Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world. He came to save it. That’s good news!

We need to celebrate this Christmas. Jesus’ birth was — and is — good news of great joy. And it’s for everybody, whether someone is Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, Hindu, Buddist, Baptist, or nothing in particular. It’s good news of great joy for all people because God says, “I love you, I’m with you, and I’m for you.”

Talk It Over

• Is your Christmas more about activities or celebration?
• What do you spend the most time preparing for during Christmas?
• How do you think God wants you to prepare yourself for Christmas so that you can truly celebrate?