Good morning. Over the next six weeks, during Pastor Riley’s sabbatical, I’ll be posting the guided devotion and prayer from the worship folder insert. These were found on upperroom.org and were chosen for their focus on unity. Enjoy.

Read Philippians 2:1-11

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

I once enjoyed the incredible experience of attending a full-orchestra concert. Before they perform, the musicians tune their instruments, playing whatever notes they choose. The result is musical chaos. Then, at the appointed time, the chaos ends. One chosen musician plays a certain note, and all the other musicians tune their instruments in relation to it.

Likewise, Jesus Christ has generated the perfect note for us through his teaching and sacrificial life. To experience divine harmony, to live in peace with others, to make beautiful music with our lives, we have only to “tune” our lives to the example set by Christ. We could tune our lives to people, fads, or fashions. But if we do not tune our lives to the Spirit of Christ, we will make only noise. When we listen to and follow Christ, we make beautiful music.

Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to live in harmony with you and with one another. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
Amen.

Thought for the week
Tuning our life to Christ brings unity and peace.