O-N-E

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The Word of God is so sharp - it pierces to the core of an issue, to the heart of a matter, and to the evident sinful condition of man.
This week, thank the Lord, He has pierced my heart in new ways of what it means to be of:
one body,
one Spirit,
one Lord,
one faith,
one baptism:
serving one God and Father of all.
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I have been reminded so often this week that we are all different in the body of Christ, but we desperately need these differences. They sharpen who we are, they make us aware of issues we might never be aware of, they cause us to humble ourselves, and realize there is no man guiding us but rather our great Shepherd - Jesus Christ.
Read this Scripture with me (make sure to read it all...it's powerful):
"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, plead with you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all in all...as children, we are to speak the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16 (NASB)
My words are few because Scripture speaks louder than any man could ever attempt to speak. But we are ONE! Christ - through His blood - has redeemed us to Himself and "we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." As I look forward to what the Lord will teach me with these passages in Scripture, I can't help but think about this summer at Turkey Hill Ranch Bible Camp....praying the Lord will remind me that as I serve Him all summer that I would be reminded of these truths. Even though we are all different as a staff - we are all still one as a staff because Christ is the tie that binds us all together!
To finish all of these thoughts regarding being "one" ... please listen to this song:

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2010 at 8:59 AM

    ...good, good thoughts, Melissa! The Word of God is our comfort as we move through this sometimes difficult journey He has us on....so important to remember 'iron sharpens iron'...don't run from people that 'sharpen' us..God has them there for a reason!!!..there are things He is trying to shave off to make us more like Him:) These are some of the same things I've been seeing as well over the past month...preserving unity is vital...Satan would want nothing more than to disrupt, divide, confuse, hurt a testimony (he knows he can't have us in eternity). Other believers are not are enemy!!...the enemy is Satan, the hater of our soul!! Clinging to our Shepherd in the midst of trials is ALWAYS the best solution!! Mom

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