Christians, Unite!

by | Jan 24, 2021 | Uncategorized

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” ~John 17:20-23

The older I get, the more I realize just how divided the Church has become. It’s no longer merely doctrine that divides; we are now divided on politics, morals, and a myriad of things that should not be debated among Christ followers, at least not to the degree that they are.

As Christ prayed for those who would believe on Him in the future, I wonder if He looked ahead and saw this point in time. Who needs to dread the mockery of unbelieving neighbors when we do a great job of tearing down and belittling each other?

I realize this is not a new phenomenon, but it seems to me that the pettiness has grown through the years and, as we draw nearer to Christ’s return, we are going to need each other more than ever before.

As we go through this year, let’s strive to be an answer to Jesus’s prayer. Let’s encourage the downtrodden, pray for the hurting, and ask for discernment to know when to speak and when to bite our tongues. It is not always important to be “right” or to “have the last word.” When discussing a matter with a fellow Christian, strive to speak the truth in love and to not become angry if your Brother or Sister disagrees with you. Live each day as though it were your last and do not do or say anything that you will regret if the recipient of your tongue lashing should drop over dead tomorrow.

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Sony Elise

Sony Elise

Sony has been an avid southern gospel fan since she first heard The Happy Goodman Family on a cassette in the mid-1980s. She is the co-founder of Family Renewal and the owner of Sony Elise Editing Services.

1 Comment

  1. scottysearan

    Sony: You are so right. God wants unity.
    Allow me to share this.

    PHILLIPIANS 2:12-13

    12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

    13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

    Three things we must know about God, our Father.
    1.  Our Father loves us.
    2.  Our Father is holy.
    3.  Our Father is not partial.

    But where do these tie in with the above verses.

    Our Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ to make all people through believing in His Son and repenting of our sons we could become His Sons and Daughters of God.  That is the ultimate love.

    Our Father is a Holy Father.  He expects a sinless life after we repent.  We may fail, but our Father expects it.  In Jesus’ Sermon on The Mount in Matthew 5:48 He gives us a command. Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
    This is not about maturity, if it was God is fully mature, so live and act like Him from the day you repent.
    Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  
    This man was close to perfection, because one thing he lacked, according to Jesus and Jesus did not lie.
    Finally let’s look at Apostle John’s writing, whom was called the beloved Apostle.  1 JOHN 2:1-6
    1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to so walk, even as he walked.

    Well it appears that Apostle John taught perfection (sinless) after repenting.

    Let’s look at #3  Our God is not partial.
    Our natural fathers did not raise their children to let on do one thing wrong and another do another thing.  We expected our children to abide by the same rules.  No Partiality.
    Now verse 12 says “Work out your own salvation,”but it seems that many leave out the FEAR AND TREMBLING.
    Verse 13 says the God our Father is working in us to will and do as his good pleasure.  
    God wants perfection.
    God wants us to be blameless.
    God requires the same for all.
    Phillippians 2:2,15
    2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 
    15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  
    120 years ago Pentecostal Churches thought much alike, but in the late 40’s and early 50’s things began to compromise in the Pentecostal Churches and we have been on a slippery downhill slope since.
    Did God require more of our ancestors than he does us nowadays?

    Reply

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