The Fullness of God's teachings

Sometimes it is a challenge to live fully into the teachings of God.  We want to lean into other teachings as superior over the word of God.  When we do this, we end up living two lives simultaneously.  We disrespect our parents because we think we have the right because they are bad at parenting.  We completely ignore our call to honor our mothers and fathers.  Or we read the words of God regarding gossip but still gather around the water cooler on Monday mornings to rehash the weekend's mishaps involving our friends with our coworkers.  We may be faithful in all other ways - serving the needs of the poor, visiting the sick and imprisoned, etc. - but we find that we struggle in an area or two relating to the other teachings of God. Revelation 2:12-17 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. ¹³ I know where you live-- where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-- where Satan lives. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶ Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Today's Prayer:
Holy God, meet us today in our imperfections.  Grant that we may experience the fullness of your joy in the areas of our lives that we have grounded in you.  Help us to see where we have not followed all of your teachings.  Grant us the grace to grow more fully in your image as we allow those other teachings to more fully permeate our lives.  Transform us from the inside out until we are fully devoted followers of yours; faithful in all the ways we follow your teachings.  Amen.