ZPCBlog

About the author: Tammy Guard and her husband joined ZPC in 2020. Tammy recently retired from teaching after spending 25 years in the elementary classroom. Tammy and Rich have three grown daughters, two (soon to be three) sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. Tammy will be joining the deacon team in January.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2-3

For the past 20 years, I had the blessing and privilege of teaching third grade at a Christian school. One of the highlights of my days was sharing Bible lessons and helping students memorize scripture. The verse for today was one my class memorized as we studied Genesis and the story of Joseph and his brothers. It’s a powerful reminder of the humility Joseph showed when he forgave his brothers after the way they treated him as a teenager.

But did the lesson always "stick?" Not always! There were still moments of disagreement on the playground, hurt feelings in the classroom, and conflicts that needed to be worked through. That’s when these important words from Paul to the Ephesians became a real-life application. "Be completely humble and gentle." It’s a tough calling, especially for an eight-year-old!

And honestly, it’s not always easy for me either. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or treated unfairly, it’s hard to respond with humility and gentleness. Yet, God’s Word is always timely, especially during the busy Advent season. Paul’s words remind us to “bear with one another in love,” and in doing so, we experience the peace that comes from the Holy Spirit.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, let’s reflect: What are some ways we can share the peace of Christ with others this Advent season? How can we embody humility, gentleness, and patience, even when it's hard?

Prayer

Father God,
We praise you for the perfect peace that we have in your son, Jesus. Guide us this Advent season to share that peace with others, so that they will be blessed and you will be glorified.
Amen.

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