A Daily Devotional with Pastor Doug Crouse July 24, 2018 Standing United Scripture Reading – Ephesians 4:2 - 3 (NLT) "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."

 I don't know about you, but when it comes to the commands of the Bible, sometimes I feel as though they would be much more humanly attainable if they did not have these all-encompassing and all-inclusive words like.... 'Always...', as today's text begins. For if only it read, some or even most of the time - I quite honestly think I could give myself a pretty good grade.

However, to always live in a state of humility and gentleness is something that I desperately require both the grace of God and Person and power of His Holy Spirit constantly working in my life, in order to even begin to hope to attain that holy and lofty goal. But it is exactly the attainment of such goals that allows us as the people of God to be, 'Standing United'.

For being patient, gentle, looking out for others, forgiving others and placing oneself in the place of humility which I have heard well defined as, ‘not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less’ -  is how we can maintain the unity of the Spirit of God in  our lives and know the release of His Spirit through us for His greater glory.

We are not only called to give this the good old college effort, but rather and once again all-encompassing and all-inclusive, we are to give every effort that we can have by using the beautiful garments of peace, to keep ourselves united and strong. 

Prayer Heavenly Father I confess today my need for more of the Holy Spirit in my life in order for me to be able to make every effort, in each and every situation, all of the time to bind together with my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus in the bond of peace. I receive this grace right now in the name and for the greater glory of Christ Jesus my Lord. 

Memory Verse:  1 Timothy 2:8 NLT "Barnabas was a _____ man, _____ of the Holy Spirit and strong in the faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.”