Same Savior, Same Family
Land sakes alive, friend, push open that lil’ ol’ garden gate, follow the smell of them fresh-baked biscuits right on up the walkway, and come claim the ol’ cushioned rocker right over yonder that’s waiting right here on this ol’ front porch just for you. Don’t be frettin’ if somebody else’s ol’ rocker squeaks different from yours. God’s family can look a whole lot more assorted than a ol’ barnyard at feedin’ time. One church raises its hands, another holds a hymnal, and another has folks clappin’ so lively that the lil’ ol’ squirrels probably think somebody went and shook the pecan tree. Yet, Ephesians 4:3-4 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope.”.
The body of Christ was plum never meant to be a real neat row of identical fence posts.
Young believers sho’-nuff’ bring in enthusiasm and fresh vision. Older believers plum carry in wisdom earned through valleys, victories, mistakes, and years of watchin’ God prove to be mighty faithful. Different backgrounds and traditions can teach us things our own lil’ corner never could. 1 Corinthians 12:25 says there should be “no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”
That plum means the seventy-year-old saint and the seventeen-year-old believer need each other. The Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, and every genuine follower of Jesus may sing differently, worship differently, and have a few opinions scattered wider than lil’ ol’ chickens after somebody drops the feed pan. But if Christ is Lord, we downright belong to the same family.
Unity don’t require uniformity. It downright requires humility. We don’t have to erase our differences. We simply have to refuse to let ‘em become bigger than Jesus.
Father, thank You for the beautiful variety within Your family. Keep me from allowing age, background, tradition, or preference to build walls between me and other believers. Teach me to listen, honor, encourage, and learn from those different from me. Help us show the world that Jesus is greater than anything that could divide us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, friend, grab your sun hat and mosey right on toward the rest of your day before that ol’ biscuit basket gets raided like a blackberry patch full of hungry lil’ ol’ raccoons. Don’t be spendin’ your time inspectin’ everybody else’s jersey to see whether the shade matches yours. Keep your eyes on the almighty Captain. Heaven ain’t organizin’ separate porches for each and every preference. We’re all headed to the same home to the one Father, through the one Savior, as one big mighty family of faith.
With joy,
Gwen
