The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 28 April 2023 – Vertical And Horizontal Relationships
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TOPIC: Vertical And Horizontal Relationships
READ: Ephesians 4:26-5:22 (NKJV)
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with [his] hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them.]
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord [is.]
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
THE MESSAGE:
Christians should maintain a good vertical relationship with God and cordial horizontal relationships with other people. Vertically, Christians should not grieve the Holy Spirit by whom they were sealed for the day of redemption. They should be imitators of God as His dear children, walking in love as Christ has loved us and understanding the will of God. They should be filled with the Holy Spirit, and sing melodiously to the Lord, giving Him thanks always for all things. With respect to horizontal relations, Christians are to avoid bitterness, wrath, immorality, idolatry, covetousness, jesting, drunkenness, anger, malice, stealing. They should be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, walking as children of light, exposing evil works, walking as wise, redeeming the time, singing psalms and hymns, and submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Having a good relationship with God is critical to our Christian life, worship and blessings. Therefore, ensure that you are fulfilling the conditions for maintaining your vertical relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This you can do by studying, meditating and obeying His word (Joshua 1:8) coupled with prayer. Relating well with fellow Christians and radiating godly character to the world are also vital to the horizontal relationship. How have you fared with the outlined Biblical injunctions in this regard? Ask for grace to excel.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to work on my vertical and horizontal relationships to Your glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.
