Daily Worship (Feb 23)

Ephesians 4:1-6
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Devotional Thought:
The early church in Acts 4 displayed remarkable unity—“one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32). That kind of peace wasn’t based on personality or preference, but on the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds us that true peace in the church comes from being humble, gentle, patient, and loving. He calls us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” This means peace isn’t automatic; it must be pursued intentionally.

However, this peace is not built on compromise. Paul lists seven foundational truths (one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and Father) that define true unity. The church must be doctrinally pure to remain unified. Peace without truth is fragile; truth without love is harsh. We must hold to both.

In daily life, we pursue peace by loving one another, refusing to gossip, forgiving quickly, and valuing Christ’s truth above personal opinions. Do you contribute to the peace of your church? Pray for humility and the strength to build up, not tear down.

COMMA Questions:

1. Context: How does this passage fit within Paul’s broader teaching about the church in Ephesians?
2. Observation: What qualities does Paul emphasize as essential for church unity?
3. Meaning: Why does Paul stress that peace must be based on truth?
4. Main Idea: How does this passage show that peace in the church is both a gift and a responsibility?
5. Application: In what ways can you actively pursue unity in your church today?

Prayer:
Lord, You have called us to be one in Christ. Give me humility, patience, and love so I can seek the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Help me to stand firm in truth while being gracious to others. Make me an instrument of peace in my church. Amen.

1 Corinthians 5:6-7
“Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

Devotional Thought:
Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 pretended to be generous while secretly keeping back part of their gift. Their deceit threatened the purity of the church, and God acted in judgment. Similarly, Paul warns the Corinthian church that sin spreads like yeast in dough—if not confronted, it corrupts the whole church.

This passage reminds us that God takes holiness seriously. The church is called to be set apart, not shaped by the world’s standards. Paul’s reference to the Passover lamb points us to Christ’s sacrifice, which cleanses us from sin. Because we belong to Him, we must put away sin, both personally and within the church.

In daily life, this means we cannot tolerate hypocrisy in ourselves or ignore sin in the church. We must lovingly, but firmly, call one another to holiness. Are you willing to confess your own sins and encourage others in purity? God’s church must reflect His holiness.

COMMA Questions:

1. Context: How does this passage relate to Paul’s warnings about sin in the Corinthian church?
2. Observation: Why does Paul compare sin to yeast?
3. Meaning: What does it mean that Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed?
4. Main Idea: Why must the church guard against sin to maintain its purity?
5. Application: Are there any sins in your own life that you need to confess before they spread?

Prayer:
Holy God, You desire a pure church. Help me to take sin seriously, both in my own heart and in my church. Give me the courage to walk in holiness and the grace to call others to do the same. Keep us faithful to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

2 Timothy 2:22-25
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.”

Devotional Thought:
This passage beautifully balances peace and purity. Paul tells Timothy to pursue peace with believers while also avoiding foolish disputes. However, this does not mean he should ignore false teaching—rather, he must correct opponents with gentleness, leading them to repentance.

Many churches struggle with this balance. Some prioritize peace at the expense of truth, tolerating false teaching. Others focus so much on purity that they become harsh and divisive. But Paul calls us to both—righteousness and peace, truth and grace.

In daily life, this means fleeing sin, avoiding unnecessary conflict, and gently correcting those in error. If we truly love others, we won’t allow them to remain in sin or deception. But our correction must be kind, patient, and rooted in love. Are you pursuing both peace and purity? Or do you lean too much toward one at the expense of the other?

COMMA Questions:

1. Context: Why is Paul instructing Timothy on handling disputes in the church?
2. Observation: What attitudes does Paul say we should have when correcting others?
3. Meaning: How does this passage show the balance between peace and purity?
4. Main Idea: How can we stand for truth while maintaining Christlike gentleness?
5. Application: Are you currently handling a conflict in a way that reflects both grace and truth?

Prayer:
Lord, teach me to pursue both peace and purity. Help me flee from sin, avoid unnecessary conflict, and correct others with gentleness. Give me wisdom to stand for truth while showing love and patience. Make me a faithful servant in Your church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.