I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
I Corinthians 1:10
I was fortunate enough to get a treadmill at the gym positioned in front of a wall of windows. As I watched the snow fall to the ground, I noticed a flock of black birds moving back and forth in the sea of white. They split into two groups for a moment and came back together again. Then, all of a sudden, one by one, they landed on a power line I hadn't noticed before. It was as though they were standing side by side in midair.
The body of Christ can be just like that. We start off together, moving to and from doing His will in our church and community. Then, for some reason, the body splits. Maybe someone doesn't like the style of music, or perhaps some feel like the pastor's sermons don't go deep enough. Whatever the problem, people begin to grumble. Grumbling causes divisions, making it possible for people to choose sides. These divisions cause the whole body to suffer. You see, each group of believers contains individuals who have certain gifts that keep that particular body going in the direction God has planned. But because they are so preoccupied with grumbling, they forget about God's plan.
Our God, however, is gracious and merciful. As long as we open our hearts to His correction and discipline, He will mend us and lead us back together again. As we come back together, just like those black birds, we land on the power line of the Holy Spirit, becoming one in the unity of Christ. Others may not have noticed His presence before, but as this body of believers begins to exhibit His love, His power becomes evident. Then they are back on the track God intended. If you are a part of a body of believers struggling with division, or you feel discord in your home, ask God to show you what part you play in the conflict, and be open to His correction. You will be amazed at His results.
Having been through church splits and the pain and suffering that is caused by them. This is a well put observation on the subject and offers hope through our Lord and Christ Jesus.
ReplyDeleteBecky Hillman is a gifted writer and has great insite on many subjects. I always enjoy her writing and devotions.