We Belong to Each Other

January 24, 2020

DAILY READINGS

Romans 12:1-8

This weekend’s reading:Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

FIELD NOTES

Romans 12:3 says, “Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.” And the next few verses remind us that not only do we all have a part to play, but we all belong to each other.

When I was a kid, my dad insisted on raising us with certain values. We always had to do our best. We couldn’t be lazy. We needed to see our commitments through. But the one that I think about most often was his insistence that we respect all people. All people. Young and old. Rich and poor. Whether they had “earned it” or not. We respected all people, in part, because we were not more important than anyone else. As a kid, I didn’t realize how deeply biblical that was.

Every person we meet matters. Every person was born to parents, was raised somewhere, was hurt by someone, was loved by someone, was good at something. Every person has a story and every person matters. As disciples of Jesus Christ, every person should matter to us. We belong to each other. We need each other. It is a sign of a life transformed by Christ if we can see God’s love and grace in each person we meet. You matter. And so does every other child of God.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Is there a person in your life who has been difficult to love – difficult to respect?
  
• How can you remember to respect each person you meet and remember how loved each person is by God?
  

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• How does it make you feel to know that every person matters to God and every person has a gift to share?
  
• Is there someone in your life who you need to show God’s love?
  

PRAYER GUIDE

God, we give you thanks that to each person you have measured out a portion of faith. We give you thanks that to each person you have measured out giftedness and love and talents and relationships. We thank you for the reminder that every person matters. Help us remember today that each person we meet is one of your beloved children. And help us to love them the same. Amen.