To the Ends of the Earth: Legacy – Week 5, Day 4 – Honest Relationships Go Hand in Hand With Membership in the Body

I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge — even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you — so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:4–10

As members of the Body of Christ, we have a duty to live irreproachably, never bringing harm to the Church or causing scandal. In particular, we are called to honesty in our relationships with one another. Only as we are open and truthful can we make real connections to one another and to Jesus our Head. As humanity awaits the revelation of Jesus Christ, we are called to stand together in unity, helping the Body to growth to maturity.

The legacy we offer to the world will not hold together if our fellowship is marred by insincerity and division. We will not point the way to what is to come if falsehood causes us to focus more on ourselves than on the Body of Christ. In unity is peace, sound judgment, and a purpose grounded on the true knowledge of Jesus and his saving work on the cross. We cannot be lacking in any gift needed to carry the Church to the Second Coming of the Lord.

Questions for reflection

Do you have complete honesty in your relationships with others, or does dishonesty cloud some of your interactions?

How has dishonesty and lack of integrity wounded your relationships in the past? How does this impact the Body of Christ?

How can you speak a unifying message of truth to a brother who may need to be brought into greater fellowship with the Church?

Praying with Scripture

Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Eph 4:25)

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