Unity

What has God been saying to you lately? I'm sure that it's more than one thing, but is there a reoccurring theme, maybe? I'd have to say that in what the Lord has been showing me, Unity is what has been standing out. It's been in the teachings at church, in the conversations with the boys on the way home from Friday School where classes are held at the Baptist church, in the chatter of women at the monthly First Friday meeting (a time for women to get together and work of projects and chatter), in the exchange of thoughts at our Growth Group bible study. It's been all around me.

It's really making me think about the prejudices and assumptions I have; ones I've had since I was little and ones I've acquired from hurts and heartaches received throughout life. And while analyzing this, I then came to ponder what sort of prejudices and assumptions I was instilling in my boys... and to take it further, how have I helped create or have been responsible for any others' prejudices? Have I caused offense that has made someone put up a wall and hold a grudge toward a certain "type" of person? Have I given "Christians" a bad name in someone's eyes? Have I contributed to someones prejudices by listening to gossip or even doing it myself?

Hmmm... I'd have to answer yes to all of the above. And that needs to change. With the conviction from the Holy Spirit and the power of Christ, I can change. I can also help change the views my children already have. To be able to do that, I need to be knowledgeable of the Word. Not just knowledgeable of the Word, but steeped in It, full of It, and with a personal relationship to It.

That's where the power to change comes from, the relationship. And the only way to have a relationship grow is to invest time into it. Let's all take a look at our relationship to our Father. Have we been spending enough time with Him to really say we have a relationship with Him? If not,well... just do it, as Nike would say. Read the Word, think about it, talk about it, study it. Let's get steeped in the Word, able to squelch the flaming arrows of the enemy and stand for Unity within the Church. Let's be the beautiful Bride of Christ, shining God's glory into the dark world!

I want the world to look at the us, the Church and say, "Wow, they have something that's different, that's better than what I have, something I want." Let's not give them the excuse of "yeah... look at that. Look at how they treat one another. They're no better than anyone else. In fact, they're worse! Why would I want to be like that?"

Let's find the common ground with our brothers and sisters that don't fellowship in the same place or in the same way that we do. Let's choose not to divide over the stuff that isn't about our salvation. Let's just get along, starting in our homes. I'm willing to give it a shot. What about you?

Can you say "soap box?!" Guess I can get off now!