A Better Life
Scripture:
Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in
gratitude. Colossians 4:1-3
(The Message)
It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion
for the poor-what a blessing! Proverbs 14:21 (The Message)
And then take on an entirely new way of life-a God-fashioned
life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as
God accurately reproduces his character in you. Ephesians 4:19-21 (The Message)
In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after
all. Ephesians 4:24 (The Message)
I recently heard a speaker who suggested four components
that can help each of us live a better life. First, live with gratitude.
Second, live with compassion. Third, try to do something in a new or novel way.
And fourth, connect deeply.
All of
these concepts are included in the Bible, as noted above. And they're all ideas
that can help make us better Christians. If we live with gratitude, we become
more aware of all the blessings we have received from God. And if we focus on
the things we can be grateful for, maybe we can turn away from some of the
negative thinking we often carry with us.
Living
with compassion means caring for others around us. Just as Jesus did. There are
a number of ways we can demonstrate compassion--by donating money to charities
or by volunteering to help those in need. But we can also show concern in our
everyday interactions with those around us. It only requires that we stop to
listen to a friend's problem or that we say hello to a stranger on the street.
Taking
action in a new way can also be simple. Read a nonfiction book rather than a
mystery. Attend a documentary instead of a violent action movie. Talk to
someone new at church. Or it can be more involved: like learning to speak a different
language.
The
most important, but also the most difficult, of the suggestions for how to live
a better life may be the final one: connect deeply. We need human interaction,
but it needs to be more than just saying "How are you?" Friendships
are vital to good mental and physical health. And faith can help us develop
deeper connections with others. Sharing our faith with friends builds stronger
friendships. And as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:20 of The Message, we should
become friends with God because he's already a friend with us. We can lead
better lives with God's help.
Prayer: Dear God, We're often looking for ways to make our
lives better. These four notions may help us. But we know, Lord, that our lives
will definitely be improved if we strive to be your friend, as you are our
friend. Please be with us as we try to be grateful, compassionate, brave enough
to try new things, and connected. Amen.
Robin Hadfield
robinhad@gmail.com
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