We as
Christians often times treat others better than we treat our fellow Christians;
and sometimes we treat Christians better than we treat unbelievers. However,
the one thing that I think we do is apply the “one another” scriptures to the
outside world and we often times forget that they are also directed, if not
more so towards life within the family of God.
Tonight as
I was reading over my scriptures, I got to thinking about what it meant to be a
part of God’s family. Certainly the body states that there are many parts to
the body and we have different jobs; recently I had a young woman tell me, I
don’t like Messianic Jewish people because they separate themselves from
Christians. The truth is they do not separate themselves from Christians, if
anything Gentile Christians separate themselves from the Messianic Jews or Jews
who believe Jesus is the Messiah.
This
brings me to my first point, Mark 9:50 states “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it
salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” But what
does this mean to the family of God?
I don’t know about you, but I love salt! Salt makes food
taste wonderful, however, how does food taste with there isn’t salt? Pretty
bland correct? And too often it’s hard to re-salt something once it’s cooked.
Then there are times when things are too salty. You can’t eat it no matter how
much water you have on the table. When we say a person is salty it means they
are disagreeable. Then Mark goes on to tell us to “be at peace with one
another.” What do you think that really means? I believe that perhaps it means
that we as Christians should be happy with one another; we don’t have to
disagree all the time and start mini wars with each other. Instead, maybe, we
can just agree to disagree about things. Either way, we are called to be at
peace with one another.
Next, I looked at John 6:43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.”
Basically here Jesus is telling us, there are
many places you could be in my family. However, be content with where you are.
In the Bible “Grumble” is akin to the word complain. Jesus doesn’t want us to
complain about our lot in life. Yes, the grass is greener in someone else’s
pasture; but the manure is the same. Don’t complain because your time is coming
when you will be used mightily. It may not be tomorrow, but what if when you
die, someone walks over to you and says “remember the time…” you will know it
will be well worth it.
Finally, Romans 12:6 “Having
gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith.” I love this because as I have
said previously, in the family of God there are different gifts and different
talents and God expects us to use them. If you are a hand, maybe God is asking
you to take the hand of the stranger beside you. Or if you are a foot, maybe
you are supposed to be walking. We are Christ’s body, so why aren’t we doing
some walking and talking to our fellow Christians? Romans 15:5 May the God of
endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with
Christ Jesus. Just as our fleshly bodies work together, the body of Christ is
to work in Harmony with one another. We can’t do Christ’s work if we aren’t
living fully in the family of God.
Today I want to encourage you to read over these scriptures,
think about what God has called you to do and where He would send you?
Next week, we’ll look at:
Romans 15:7
1 Corinthians 11:33
Galatians 5:15
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