Pastor Glenn FAMILY 4/22/21
“Family.”
Even as I write this word, my heart hurts because of the disunity among God’s people in our country and in our churches. We would expect disunity among those who are in the world and who are still a part of the world. We would expect disunity from those whose selfish ambitions lead to, as James states, “disorder and every evil practice.” But when we find disunity among God’s people, we know that our enemy is at work and people will suffer. Not only will God’s people suffer, but the world itself will suffer. God’s people will suffer because we will forget who our real enemy is and begin to see each other as the enemy. We will focus on our differences rather than on our common faith in Jesus. We will be distracted from our main purpose of glorifying God, of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and of proclaiming the message of forgiveness in His name. Those who are still a part of the world will suffer because what they see in the lives and practices of professing believers, who are not united in love and purpose, is the same thing they see in the lives and practices of people who do not profess to follow the Lord. The beauty and majesty of God that is supposed to be seen in, among and through
His people, His family, is no longer visible.
When Jesus prayed that “they may all be one,” He was not praying for the world. He was praying for US, for God’s people and for God’s family. As a matter of fact, Jesus promised His followers that we would be guaranteed “trouble” in this world. But, in that promise He also encouraged us with this: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. We know that Jesus Christ would not pray for something that was not possible. Unity among God’s people IS possible if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. The enemy of our souls wants to keep us distracted, focused on things that are of lesser importance than on God’s plan of loving Him, loving each other and making disciples of those who don’t yet know Him. I am convinced that if God’s church, of which I am a part and you are a part if you are in Christ, can be unified in our purpose and practice, the world will change because it will SEE how God can bring about unity. By the way, this IS what Jesus prayed about for the sake of the world!
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
John 17:20-21.
If we, as God’s children who have but one Father, call ourselves “family,” then we have got to see each other as family. We have got to treat each other as family. We have got to love, honor, respect and forgive each other as God’s family and not allow the enemy to distract and divide us. With so much division and separation happening in our world today, people need to see and know that there is a group of people who are different. And when they see the glory of God in and through God’s loving, unified people, SOME will want what we have and what we’ve found in Jesus Christ. Love, joy, peace, hope and purpose, to name just a few.
“Family”. We are not perfect, but we’re God’s children! As a friend of mine often prays, “Lord, I’m not much but I am Yours!” In Christ we have become God’s family, and as His family we want to bring Him glory by being unified in heart, mind and purpose. THIS is “good and pleasant” to the Lord as the following Psalm states. Psalm 133
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
In His Strength,
Glenn