Prayer Tip--The Difficult Sayings of Paul
Daily Scripture
2 Peter 3:15-16 (CEB)
Consider the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as our dear friend and brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him, speaking of these things in all his letters. Some of his remarks are hard to understand, and people who are ignorant and whose faith is weak twist them to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
My wife Lisa and I are very good friends with another pastor and his wife who live a few hours away. We’ve known each other for years and still see each other often. Our kids basically grew up together and remain a part of each other’s lives. We’ve visited each other’s churches and spent time praying with and for one another countless times. These folks are two of the most loving and caring people Lisa and I know. In fact, we don’t just consider them friends; we consider them family.
Theologically, however, we disagree on several topics, including some of those addressed by the Apostle Paul. Though our studies of Paul’s writings have brought us to different places, there is one thing upon which we adamantly agree. We strive to filter all our beliefs through the love of Jesus. The greatest commandment is our guide as we seek to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. No matter our scriptural interpretations, love always wins.
As we consider the difficult sayings of Paul this week, I know Pastor Adam and our daily GPS will help us explore the broader contexts of these scriptures–the stories behind, within and around Paul’s words. We’ll go deeper and grow richer in our understandings of some very challenging Scripture passages. As the process unfolds, it’s important to remember that all of us may not end up in the same place. We might not agree on everything and that’s okay. What I hope we will agree on is that God is love; and love is our lens, our filter, our guide. Love must and will always win. Let’s pray for that especially this week.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for the Apostle Paul and for all we continue to learn from his life and letters. Open our hearts and minds as we seek to better understand the difficult things he wrote. May we hear your loving voice and trust in your goodness and compassion. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
GPS Insights
Chris Holliday
This week's prayer tip is by Chris Holliday, who currently serves as the Connection and Care Pastor and Director of Adult Discipleship at Resurrection West. Chris joined the Resurrection staff in 2009.
