Song of Unity

Song of Unity

Revelation 5: ⁹ They sang a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to break open its seals.
For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God
    people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.
¹⁰ You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God,
    and they shall rule on earth.”

 

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Being called by a racial slur, made me want to fight. I figured, that intimidation would be the best weapon to make sure this offense would never happen again. I got a huge friend to go into the room with me as we faced the name caller and his 8 friends.

 

• I wanted to fight because of disrespect.
• I wanted to combat any racial inequality that existed.
• I wanted to make an example of the people who secretly harbored racism in their hearts.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard a song from the four creatures, who’s image he could not describe well and from the twenty-four elders. They sang a song that shows how much JESUS loves “every tribe, language, nation, and race.”

 

My Observations:

• JESUS did not die for one flag, rather all nations.
• JESUS loves people who do not look like me or talk like me.
• JESUS showed me the example I am supposed to follow, namely loving all for HIS kingdom purpose.

 

Unity seems important to GOD. I mean, HE gave a new command to follow which is “Love one another.” HE does not take this lightly. HE sees every tribe, HE speaks every language loves every nation and adores every race. Unfortunately, humans want power and seek superiority.

 

GOD has a new song that was sang about JESUS. HE overcame racism, sexism, ageism and any other “ism” to provide unity to the world. HIS love covers all our sins! We can rejoice with everyone who believes!

 

Challenge

• Does the song recorded by the writer sound joyous?
• Is there a race you would prefer to see placed over other races?
• Will you focus on loving one another just as JESUS commanded you so unity can be spread throughout the world through you today?

Entrance Plan

Entrance Plan

1 John 3: ¹¹ The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another. ¹² We must not be like Cain; he belonged to the Evil One and murdered his own brother Abel. Why did Cain murder him? Because the things he himself did were wrong, and the things his brother did were right.

 

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After a colleague was “reduced” from the workforce, I felt enraged. Me and another peer decided to meet with the leader of the organization. We prepared for the meeting by discussing how outraged we were, as if we were putting on combat gear. The meeting kept getting moved, but when we had it, we lit into the leader.

 

• I was preparing to be heard, not to hear.
• I was furious and all I could think about was rage.
• I did not have any room in my heart for the leader we met with.

 

John took everyone back to the foundational action all believers in CHRIST should have, namely “love one another.” He gave the first example of hatred by showing how Cain despised Abel’s “right” actions. He explained that Cain was so consumed with hatred, that he murdered his brother. John may have written this to ward off any feelings of hatred the persecuted people may have had.

 

My Observations:

• GOD gave the commandment to “love one another” because HE is love.
• When I take love into places where war is expected, better things happen.
• GOD’s love is the only cure for the hatred that seems to be spreading more rapidly than usual.

 

Being enraged can cause me permanent damage. I mean, when I get so mad at this person or that person, I am willing to cut him or her off from GOD’s message of love. This requires that I examine my heart, because if I don’t want everyone to believe in CHRIST, I may not be on HIS side.

 

GOD wants everyone redeemed, even those who may have wronged you and me. HIS grace far exceeds any that you and I can imagine. HE loves those who hate people. HIS grace can cover a multitude of sins. I am glad GOD has provided an entrance plan to address arguments, namely love one another.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer used Cain as the example?
• Have you ever been so enraged that you did not think of your words or actions which may have been hatred?
• Instead or preparing for combat, can you take love into your conversations?
• Will you examine your heart and your words to see if there is any slander, prejudice, judgment or even hatred so you can give them to GOD for HIM to cleanse your heart today?

Restored After the Stew

Restored After the Stew

Ephesians 3: For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, pray to God. ² Surely you have heard that God in his grace has given me this work to do for your good. ³ God revealed his secret plan and made it known to me. (I have written briefly about this, ⁴ and if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ.) ⁵ In past times human beings were not told this secret, but God has revealed it now by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. ⁶ The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God's blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus.

 

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Standing on the sideline, I waited to be picked to be on one of the teams. I was not athletically inclined, so my draft pick was extremely low. I was finally chosen, but did not get a chance to play that time, but when I did, I actually got on base!

 

• At one time I felt left out.
• When I was chosen I still felt like I did not belong.
• When I participated, I did not know I could actually contribute.

 

Paul goes to enormous lengths to explain the Gentiles have a part in GOD’s promise. For centuries, the Gentiles heard of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and “Jacob”, (the swindler who tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright for some stew). While Esau was careless, he did not know he would be the father of a group of people who were left out of the Promise.

 

My Observations

• GOD sees my mistakes and forgive me anyway.
• GOD wants me to be part of HIS family, even though I do not deserve it.
• GOD wants me to actively participate as much as those who are gifted.

 

Some people who follow JESUS can be intense or even a bit intimidating. I mean, he may give more or she may serve more or someone else may not sin as much. BUT GOD doesn’t look at the score when it comes to HIS Promise. HE wants all of HIS children back, period.

 

HE chose a group to spread HIS Gospel, and they held it to themselves. HE then allowed HIS SON to fulfil the Gospel and they killed HIM. HE raised JESUS from the dead and gave HIS promise to the descendants of Jacob and Esau. He restored the Gentiles without having them need to follow all the rules. I am glad JESUS was raised from the dead for me.

 

Challenge

• Can you feel the passion of the writer over those who were at once left out?
• Have you ever felt left out or less than another person?
• Will you accept JESUS as your Savior and be a part of a family who HE care for and guides daily, in spite of flaws?

 

United Races

United Races

Ephesians 2: ¹⁶ By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body and brought them back to God. ¹⁷ So Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to all—to you Gentiles, who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to him. ¹⁸ It is through Christ that all of us, Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the one Spirit into the presence of the Father.

 

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A slush-ball with a rock in it hit the car window as we passed by. I was in the back seat and could feel the tension as we drove through a neighborhood that was of a different race. Another incident happened as we were biking in a community of another race, I got kicked off my bike. I got back on and we were chased with racial slurs flung heavily at us.

 

• I did not know who I could trust in other races.
• I thought other races were against me because of my race.
• I could only see division as the answer, so I shrunk back into my own community.

 

JESUS did something amazing that Paul wrote about. HE died on the cross and was raised from the dead. This miracle enabled all who believed, to become part of GOD’s family. HE destroyed the wall that was between the two races and unified all to come into one SPIRIT.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s desire is unity.
• GOD wants me to align with HIS desire regardless of past hurts.
• GOD wants me to see that JESUS is the only answer to unity.

 

Bowing to JESUS means I do not want to steal HIM to show I am part of a superior race. I mean, I have been all over the world and saw JESUS represented in the race of that country. We argue over who is superior or who wronged who the longest. Meanwhile, GOD sees all races as HIS children and simply wants someone to step up and do the same.

 

GOD wants more than one race saved and no race is superior than another. The excuse of not believing in JESUS because HE is of a certain race is false. HE died for all races and lives for all. No human is without sin but JESUS. I am glad HE cares for me and all races.

 

Challenge

• Want enmity is the writer speaking of?
• Does it seem like the racial divide is getting larger?
• Will you align to GOD’s desire and seek unity on a small scale by simply praying for one another today?

 

Serve the Overlooked Well

 

Serve the Overlooked Well

Romans 11: ¹³ I am speaking now to you Gentiles: As long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I will take pride in my work. ¹⁴ Perhaps I can make the people of my own race jealous, and so be able to save some of them. ¹⁵ For when they were rejected, all other people were changed from God's enemies into his friends. What will it be, then, when they are accepted? It will be life for the dead!

 

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When I got the promotion, I thought I would be given a team. “Make your own team” was the strange directive given to me and no one else. I met with people who were overlooked in the company and formed a team of volunteers. They worked out so well that the team got noticed and those in “power” asked how we did it.

 

• There were times when rejection seemed like a problem to me.
• There were times when being overlooked felt degrading to me.
• There were times when unfairness was the norm towards me.

 

Paul spoke about the Jewish leaders who rejected JESUS as the Messiah. He became a preacher to the Gentiles because of their rejection. He wanted to serve the Gentiles, who had been overlooked by his race, well. He still hoped his race would be saved.

 

• GOD wants me to take pride in my work as I serve the group HE sends me to.
• GOD wants me to pay attention to the overlooked.
• GOD wants me to see those who have been rejected as HIS friends.

 

Speaking about JESUS has to be done. It cannot be bottled up inside once a person sees what JESUS did. Unfortunately, there will be those who too stuck on the pleasures of life to hear about the abundance GOD speaks about.

 

So GOD sends me to those who can hear about JESUS. HE does not have time to waste, so HE takes me and those ready to speak about JESUS, to HIS harvest. I am grateful GOD is no longer my enemy but calls me a friend.

 

• Are you overlooking people?
• Are you seeking the pleasures of the world without speaking about the greatness of JESUS?
• Will you take the responsibility of speaking about JESUS seriously and take the message to those GOD sends you to today?

Common Ground

Common Ground

Acts 10: ²⁴ And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸ Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

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“That group messes everything up” I said out loud. I’m sure the department head of the group I was speaking of felt the same way about my department. The Chief Operating Officer had to step in and tell us to “fix this.” “Come meet in my office” I said. But the offer was rejected. He did the same and I rejected the offer to meet.

• There were times when I wanted people to meet me on “my” terms.
• There were times when I was told to reconcile, but had no intentions of doing so.
• There were times when I remembered all of the mess ups of others to show how great my group was.

Peter was summoned by someone of another race. Until then, Peter had kept to his own kind, BUT GOD had another plan. GOD told Peter not to call another race common or unclean. He was sent, so he went.

• GOD wants me to look at other humans as people who need JESUS.
• GOD wants me to see other humans as HIS creation.
• GOD wants me to view other people as “us” instead of them.

Desiring to harm someone because they do not look or act like me, is detestable in GOD’s eyes. I mean HE loathes when I call someone a fool. In fact HE said, “Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” GOD wants me to meet in common ground. But where is that in these days of deep, century-laced hatred?

JESUS is the common ground that holds mankind together. Because of a “true” relationship with HIM, I can seek love for all HE sends me to or to whom I am sent. HE cares for the heart, not the outer shell. HE wants me to seek those who need HIM and sometimes the common ground may be hard to find. I am grateful GOD took the extra steps to save me. HE values my extra steps to extend common ground.

• Are you furious at another race right now?
• Do you feel anger versus love?
• Will you combat the distraction of hatred with the more powerful weapon of love for one another today?