“And now, let us go forth into the world in peace, being of good courage, holding fast to that which is good, rendering to no one evil for evil, strengthening the faint-hearted, supporting the weak, helping the afflicted, honoring every person, loving and serving our Lord and Savior, and rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Some churches recite this as the last element of their service; it comes right before the benediction. Then, presumably, they go forth into the world in peace and try to live their Christian calling by applying the rest of the passage each day.

It is a rare person who can consistently maintain such a high standard of behavior. It is a rare person who even remembers to try on a regular basis. Even so, it is better to fall short of high ideals than to have ideals that are so low that they are easily reached.

What do you think of the values this passage espouses? What would it mean in someone’s life if they adopted them? How might it affect how they lived their faith?