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Are We One?

I heard this message this morning and it sat me up straight in my chair as I listened.   Like a cold shower the words brought me wide awake and alert to the lesson Father was trying to get across to me.  My hearts desire is to be a part of Christ's united body - rather than a part of a detached group of 'believers' each going their own direction. Laying down preconceived notions, old doctrines and judgmental attitudes is not as easily accomplished in the flesh as I would hope and at times I am disappointed by my lack of progress.  But I believe that desire to be conformed to His image will take place as I yield daily to Holy Spirit's guidance in my life.

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if His love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care--then do me a favor:  Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.  Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top.  Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.  Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage,  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Do everything readily and cheerfully--no bickering, no second-guessing allowed!  Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society.  Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.  (taken from the Message - Phil.2)

I start here with the exhortations of Paul who encourages us to live (Phil 2:2 Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind) in harmony with one another. When you think about it  - harmony is not one note sung in the same way by everyone.  It is a blend.   The differences coming together to make a more beautiful sound. 

There are so many 'parts' to the body.  Each with it's own purpose.   Each one with it's own assignment.  If we could see the many parts of the body of Christ this way maybe we could stop the petty bickering, the striving over who attends the 'right' church, what is more pleasing to God in worship - whether we are Pentecostal or Baptist, Catholic or Charismatic the question that unites us is:  Do you know Jesus as your Savior?  So many differences may be only a matter of what 'part of the body' we are.  Hands do one task, feet another, eyes and ears and mouth still others.  So many parts are unseen and yet so very important,  there are parts that seem to be undisciplined - but their importance is not diminished.  We must come to a place where we see other Christians (those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord) as a part of the whole body.  Our whole body is not a hand, a heart, a leg - we are made up of various parts - some we like better than others!  But they are all necessary.  God made us that way!  He made His own body here on earth that way too. 

This morning the message raised questions about what caused Jesus to be crucified.   Immediately we think - sin - it was our sin that nailed Him to the cross.   Yes, that was the purpose of His coming, His death, burial and resurrection.   But - what was going on in the minds of the people at the time. What actually put the act of the crucifixion into action?  The religious leaders were unwilling to accept Jesus as the Son of God - it would have changed their whole way of thinking.  It would have meant change.  It would have disrupted their doctrines, their laws and their way of dealing with everything in their lives.  They encouraged the people to call for Barabbas' freedom - they choose the robber, the thief, the murderer - they turned their backs on the one sent by God to provide the salvation they were looking for rather than change their thinking. 

Barabbas represents the flesh.  They chose to serve the desires of their flesh - their old ways and rules - rather than accept Jesus as The Savior God had sent to Israel.  We are given the opportunity over and over again to choose Jesus over Barabbas.  We can choose to love instead of judge.  What will we choose today when we are  presented the the opportunity?