Series: If I Was CEO of the Church for a Day
Recently, we had a guest preacher who addressed in his humble, yet convicted way the challenges of our call to “unity.” He spoke of Euodia and Syntyche, those sisters in Christ in the church at Phillipi who were on the “outs” with each other.
That it was common knowledge to everyone in that church can be assumed, since Paul wrote openly about it, urging the brothers to “help these women to agree with each other in the Lord.” One important thing to notice in this passage is the affirmation Paul gave these women, in saying how they had worked alongside him in the work of the Lord! He saw them as an important part of the work of the Church, and too valuable to be "written off" because t
hey quarreled and had differences.
This speaker went on to establish the premise that, though we may have our differences in the body, we have a common ground to come together, stay together, and work effectively in the Lord. He used examples from the writings to the Ephesians, Corinthians, and Romans to illustrate this.
In 2 Peter 1:3-11, we find a significant list of traits we are to desire to possess in our lives in order that we, as part of God's body, may be effective and productive in the world. Among those traits I find self-control, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These all indicate a forgiving, compassionate spirit that helps me see beyond the petty, peripheral differences we humans have, and look at the bigger picture of what our God designed us to do and be in His earth.
Just like the wonderful physical organ, the liver, which most often rebuilds itself when damaged and is restored (by the power of the Creator!) to be an effectual, functioning organ, the church--the body of Christ--should certainly do the same, since we read how significant the Church is in Ephesians 3:10: “His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms…”
Our witness, as the Church, should be one that works together in love, encouragement, forgiveness and “long-suffering-ness,” and healing so that we are an effective, productive “organ” for the Lord, reflecting His intent for us!
Lord of heaven and earth, our Designer, Maker and wonderful loving heavenly Father,
In Your precious son, Jesus Christ’s Name, please help us to have His Spirit in us as we relate to one another in Your Body. Please help us, Lord, to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ you forgave us! Amen.
Jan McCoy
Merkel, Texas
Recently, we had a guest preacher who addressed in his humble, yet convicted way the challenges of our call to “unity.” He spoke of Euodia and Syntyche, those sisters in Christ in the church at Phillipi who were on the “outs” with each other.
That it was common knowledge to everyone in that church can be assumed, since Paul wrote openly about it, urging the brothers to “help these women to agree with each other in the Lord.” One important thing to notice in this passage is the affirmation Paul gave these women, in saying how they had worked alongside him in the work of the Lord! He saw them as an important part of the work of the Church, and too valuable to be "written off" because t
hey quarreled and had differences.This speaker went on to establish the premise that, though we may have our differences in the body, we have a common ground to come together, stay together, and work effectively in the Lord. He used examples from the writings to the Ephesians, Corinthians, and Romans to illustrate this.
In 2 Peter 1:3-11, we find a significant list of traits we are to desire to possess in our lives in order that we, as part of God's body, may be effective and productive in the world. Among those traits I find self-control, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These all indicate a forgiving, compassionate spirit that helps me see beyond the petty, peripheral differences we humans have, and look at the bigger picture of what our God designed us to do and be in His earth.
Just like the wonderful physical organ, the liver, which most often rebuilds itself when damaged and is restored (by the power of the Creator!) to be an effectual, functioning organ, the church--the body of Christ--should certainly do the same, since we read how significant the Church is in Ephesians 3:10: “His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms…”
Our witness, as the Church, should be one that works together in love, encouragement, forgiveness and “long-suffering-ness,” and healing so that we are an effective, productive “organ” for the Lord, reflecting His intent for us!
Lord of heaven and earth, our Designer, Maker and wonderful loving heavenly Father,
In Your precious son, Jesus Christ’s Name, please help us to have His Spirit in us as we relate to one another in Your Body. Please help us, Lord, to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ you forgave us! Amen.
Jan McCoy
Merkel, Texas
No comments:
Post a Comment