Introduction
As a kid, I wasn’t big on strawberries. I loved the wild blackberries we’d find out in the country, and blueberry muffins were a favorite. But the strawberries I had tasted dull by comparison.
Until, that is, I tasted a fresh, homegrown, still-warm strawberry. That was something different.
I think words and ideas can work the same way. Our first—or most regular—encounter with something that is dull, industrial, or even abusive can sour us on it, making it bitter to taste. Then later, maybe by chance, maybe through curiosity, maybe by example, we encounter that same thing used in a completely different way, coming from—and leading us to—somewhere different. What was once bitter becomes sweet.
Let’s see if we can have a new and unique experience with some things that may have once seemed bitter to us as we continue our look at Colossians 3 this week.
Grace and peace y’all,
John Ray and the teaching team
Text:
Lord’s Prayer
Christ, who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
