I don’t know about you, but my family is FULL of all sorts of different characters… we have the clowns/jokers, the serious ones, the ones who need loads of attention and the ones who thrive behind the scenes! We have a whole slew of political and religious views, hurts and failures, life experiences and lessons learned.
Despite us all being VERY different, there is a certain bond that exists among us that simply cannot be broken! We are family. Whether we like it or not at all times, we are one.
To have unity with people does not mean that all of the people are the same. Oneness does not equal sameness… It means togetherness!!
Lately though, it seems like unity is worlds away and that the Bride of Christ will never be able to stand as one before her bridegroom… like she’ll show up in pieces, tormented by internal arguments and doubts about herself. Our differences in experience, opinion and understanding do not need to tear us apart and cause further division! In fact, these differences actually allow us to think about God in new ways!
In Colossians 3, Paul gives some instructions for the way of life that needs to be left behind and gives advice on how to live together and appreciate one another more, even if we’re different.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
(Colossians 3:12-17)
Not only were all of us created to be equal, we are all made one through what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. When he died on the cross and rose again, Jesus made the way for us to be one with God in a way we never, ever could have achieved on our own! It was impossible and he made a way.
The love of God is so much better than we could ever imagine. The forgiveness that covers each and every one of us is why the Spirit of God leads us into confessing our sins! Because the kind of love we see in Jesus, the kind of love Paul is instructing the Colossians to put on nd be bound together by, is one that is not wishy-washy or airy-fairy.
Love actually calls attention to sin… it doesn’t ignore it or explain it away.
Love doesn’t highlight our sins to shame us or to hold us down. We are not brought into deeper awareness of our sins so that we would dwell there or fester in it!
Love calls it out and wants it gone because damage is being done with it there!
Love longs for us to be brought back into that place of things being right with God. Into that place of communion. Into that place of oneness.
The best part is that every, single time we ask the Lord for forgiveness, it is already done.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:8-9)
It is with this same humility that we are able to experience unity with people who are so different from us! It is when we are bound together by love that we see how together we truly are.
No matter what our similarities or our differences are; no matter what experiences widen the gap or bring us closer to one another. No matter what, we have been made one through Christ and must live in ways that reflect that!
Lord Jesus, we are so grateful for the Love you have shown us and for making a way for us to know the love you and the Father share. Thank you for bringing us into this Family of yours and for never, ever turning us away from this amazing grace!
Show us how to love one another more and lead us in the way of humility.
Bring to mind anything that is blocking us from experiencing your love, Holy Spirit, and help us make things right… with one another, with you, and even with ourselves.
We need you and we love you so much,
Amen.