Introduction:
Does unity require that everyone must be uniform?
Text:
Colossians 3:12-14 (HCSB)
12 Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also ⌊forgive⌋.
14 Above all, ⌊put on⌋ love—the perfect bond of unity.
Observation:
The Apostle Paul addresses the comments made in our focal passage to God's chosen ones; this is a message for believers in Christ.
There will always be conflict whenever you get two or more people together. It happens in our family and it happens in the church. The bridge over conflict is to learn to honor one another. O, if we could see people the way God sees them.
The unfinished work of every believer is to love God, and to love one another. No matter what your condition or circumstance may be, you have within you the ability to love God, and to love one another. Being one people does not require being uniform.
I have seen evidence in our communities that we can come through the fire, and through floods and not be consumed. Rather, we can find within us the power to honor and love those who are different from us.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (HCSB)
1 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love,
3 diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds ⌊us⌋.
The God who made us different also made us to be one. Let's show the world that we love God by the way that we love one another.
John 13:34-35 (HCSB)
34 "I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.
35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Prayer:
Father, we exalt Your name today above every name, and give You the honor, glory, and praise that You alone deserve.
Father, thank You that You were well pleased when You made man in Your own image. Father, help us to see others the way that You see them, and to love others the way You love them. Father, thank You for showing us how it is possible. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
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