Fellowship

A Glorious Unity!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. John 17:22 ESV

It is quite poplar at church to say that we should be one in the Spirit, but much as I have tried to get a hold of that unity, it seems elusive at best. Singing about it, having communion together and shaking hands after church feels great, but my sense of unity seems to evaporate somewhere in traffic on the way home. Part of the problem is that many of us don’t understand that first part of the verse. When Jesus talks about glory, I get this weird image of God giving us a standing ovation in heaven or perhaps Jesus pulling the Father aside and whispering, “See Pete over there – isn’t he great!”

The problem we then run into is that we try to work up Christian unity by our own efforts. I don’t know how that works for you, but the sad truth is that I am incapable of doing it. Unity comes only from God’s glory and one of the most glorious moments in Jesus’ life, happened at His baptism. Then the Heavens opened, and the Spirit descended like a dove. That is a glory that only comes as a gift (Just like Salvation). We can’t work it up, plan it into existence or take credit for it. It is a unity that only comes from heaven, and it is God’s gift. To live in His unity and His glory will only happen when we place our lives as living sacrifices on His altar. Then we need to wait for His Spirit to come and bring about what only He can do. That way, when unity really does happen, even for a moment, Jesus gets all the glory, right now and forever Amen!

Carried To The Table

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I was so moved by this video that Joni and Friends ministry shared in their Thanksgiving newsletter that I wanted to share with my readers. This special video was created by the Reflectors ministry of Faith church in Dyer Indiana. It vividly shows us that Jesus truly is not only a good shepherd but that he also carried us on His cross to the banqueting table of the Lord. We must remember how precious our seating is and how special each family member around us and we give thanks!

When We Say Hello Again

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Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Romans 16:15

It has been so very long since we have been in church. That last Sunday we were able to worship together the storm clouds of Corona virus had already begun to gather. There were many empty seats in the sanctuary and our greetings were careful and interspersed by the frequent use of hand sanitizer stations that suddenly dotted our lobby. No one knew that this would be the last time we would see one another outside of a computer screen or an occasional meeting in a driveway. Whether you normally greet one another with handshakes or hugs and kisses; we are all feeling the loss of being cut off from one another. Our longing to meet again face to face is a natural expression of the love of Christ and is reflected in Paul’s farewell chapter of the book of Romans.

It is astonishing how at the end of this long and highly doctrinal letter that the Apostle can greet by name dozens of people in a city to which he has never yet traveled. Whatever the practical explanation for that, it is a reflection of the heart of Jesus who the gospel says had compassion on the people because they were as sheep without a shepherd.

On the day of our return to church we must remember the special value there is in greeting one another, whether by a holy kiss or a socially safe elbow bump. Those missing faces in our lives are our brothers and sisters and how we will rejoice on the day when we can once more we can say hello again!

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