January 9 – Devotional

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1 – 5:2

Key Verse: You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all. – Ephesians 4:4-6, CEB

In this section of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, he called the believers to unity by reminding them that they worshipped one God and Father of all. As Christians our first non-negotiable is belief in God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit which are often referred to as the Holy Trinity. In the years since Paul wrote this letter, a lot of other words and phrases have become commonly used in the church. It would be nearly impossible to compose a list that includes all of those words, but there is a list of some “church words” in Appendix B. Think about how each word relates to First Houston United Methodist Church today and how they influence our vision as we move forward.

Pray:

• Which three words represent First Houston United Methodist Church today? Which three words are non-negotiable as we strive to become the church God calls us to be in the future?

• Do any other non-negotiable “church words” that aren’t on the list come to mind? If so, what are they?

Listen: With open eyes, ears, and heart, listen for God to speak to you now and throughout the day.

Share: You can share your thoughts where you feel best. You can share your thoughts in your printed devotional booklet, you can share below in the comments,  you can share a comment on our Facebook page, or you can share a comment on the First Houston United Methodist Church App by following the Daily Devotionals Channel.