One Voice

 One Voice

Romans 15: 4 Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. 5 And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, 6 so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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“What happened?” the person in authority said to us. Wanting to remain innocent, I omitted why I was part of the situation and gave only the facts that made the “real” culprit look bad. Our stories, however, did not align very well. The person in authority could easily see that something was not quite right with what we were saying.

• There have been times when I tried to speak with one voice, but left out important facts.
• There have been times when I tried to present “my” side of “our” story.
• There have been times when I tried to protect myself with “my” point of view.

Paul points to the Scriptures as the primary point of truth for hope, patience and encouragement. But there is a twist to the use of the Scripture. It is to being about the way to follow the example of CHRIST JESUS so “we” could have the same point of view.

• GOD wants me to see other people when I read HIS word.
• GOD wants me to seek unity with people through CHRIST versus getting my way.
• GOD wants me to follow the example of CHRIST so I can praise the FATHER with one voice among many people.

Unity through the example of JESUS is all the FATHER wants. HE is the source of patience and encouragement and HE gave HIS creation a way to hear HIM daily through the Scriptures. In its purest form, the Scripture gives hope through patience and encouragement.

There is no multi-sided road to the FATHER. HE wants all humans to speak about JESUS as the Savior of the world, with one voice. I gladly surrender “my” point of view to speak about JESUS, praising GOD the FATHER because of HIM.

• Are you trying to speak on your behalf?
• Do you want a group of followers?
• Will you surrender your quest to have people follow you and begin speaking about JESUS so you can align the message to one voice GOD wants all to have today?

Unfortunate Unity

Unfortunate Unity

Acts 5: ⁵ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. ⁶ And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

⁷ Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”

She said, “Yes, for so much.”

⁹ Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. ¹¹ So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

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When pledging to get into an organization, we all agreed to lie and steal on a number of occasions. I mean it was only for a short time. I could do and say what I wanted to as long as I was with the group. I fit in and we made it into the organization. In one meeting, we discovered money was missing. “How could this happen?” we all exclaimed.

• There were times when I showed unity but it was missing something.
• There were times when I showed unity but the actions were not above the level.
• There were times when I showed unity but I did not want to tell everyone why I was unified.

Ananias and Sapphira sold their land like everyone else, but held some money back for themselves and made it look they gave their all. This pledge ended up being a deadly vow they did not have to make. While they showed unity in their marriage, it was missing one key ingredient, namely GOD.

• GOD wants me to have unity in HIS word.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIM first before anything else.
• GOD wants me to make attempts to unify under HIM so all efforts will be blessed.

Unity is extremely important to GOD. When two or more people vow to stand for what GOD stands for, incredible things happen. Unfortunately when people act on their own, avoiding GOD’s unity, their promises are not heard and prayers end up falling by the wayside.

GOD wants belief in HIS SON to be unified by HIS followers. HIS power, HIS name and HIS position as GOD are all to be lifted to the highest reverence. Even if one person does not have as much faith as another, unity kicks in when by accepting the statement “I believe but LORD help the part of me that does not believe.” I am glad unity is possible through CHRIST.

• Are you right in a group but wrong in the eyes of GOD?
• Do you believe your efforts are unifying or divisive?
• Will you look to unify all your efforts under the way GOD says versus your solo actions so true success can blossom today?

Simple Math

Simple Math

John 7: ⁴⁰ Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” ⁴¹ Others said, “This is the Christ.”

But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? ⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” ⁴³ So there was a division among the people because of Him. ⁴⁴ Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

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“Multiplication is addition only quicker and division is subtraction that is just as quick” my math teacher said. I learned the principle and went home. Weekends later I went camping. In a playful way, one of the campers pulled a knife on another.

As the knifeless person pushed the blade away, his hand was cut deeply. Suddenly we were divided at the camp the entire weekend. It happened quickly.

• I have noticed division happens quickly.
• I have been involved with dividing people against “those” people.
• I have warned others to stay away from “those” people.

The crowd tried to figure out who JESUS was. Some said HE is the CHRIST, while others said HE is the Prophet. But there was a group who refused to believe and they traced HIS roots back to where HE lived in Galilee. Arguments grew and division rose.

• GOD wants me to follow HIM in unity with others.
• GOD wants me to figure out what is important and unify rather than divide.
• GOD wants me to have grace for others so the unity can speak louder than being right.

Division amongst those who try to follow GOD is a serious problem with HIM. The words “They are doing it wrong” seems to be easy to say yet difficult to rectify. I have been guilty for packing up “my way of doing things” and leaving a church group, searching for a group who acts and sometimes looks like me.

BUT GOD wants different. HE wants me treat all sin the same. HE wants me to look at my sin as ghastly as someone else’s. After my confession that I need GOD as my savior, HE wants me to treat others with care so they will point their lives to HIM. I am glad HE forgives me.

• Are you part of dividing GOD’s kingdom?
• Will you look at what is causing the division and allow GOD to handle the outcome?
• Will you do your part to show unity so others can be healed by GOD?

Blessed because of somebody else

Genesis 30: ²⁷ But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” 

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My friends’ living room became a second home for me. They always had good food and some fun games! Looking back I bet they wondered if I had a home of my own!  As their parents dished out advice to their sons I would listen and grumble just like my friends. Little did I know their sage advice would benefit me to this day.

• Being around the right people helps me grow.
• Being around the right people keeps me from falling.
• Being around the right people puts me on the right path.

I love praying for something and getting my prayer answered by GOD but sometimes I am blessed indirectly. Just being in the presence of someone else who is blessed helps me tremendously. Unfortunately when trouble comes my way I try to isolate myself thinking I need to fix my own problems.

GOD wants me to gather with others so I can be blessed.

• Are you isolated and feeling alone?
• Do you feel punished?
• Can you get out of your hole and go find some blessed people to be around?
• Can you “be” the blessed person someone needs to be around?

Unity starts here

Philippians 2:¹Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 

not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

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After approaching the head of the department about an idea many people had, I realized we were going to get nowhere. I mean this idea was brilliant yet fell on deaf ears. “We’re going to do it anyway” I said to myself.  I obtained outside resources and funding and we marched ahead with our plans. We built a wonderful tool but it caused a battle that lasted for years.

• My self-interested desires can cause discord when I look at others as opposition.
• My selfish ambitions can bring about disagreements when I only seek my way.
• My self-seeking aspirations can make me look good but in the long run everyone loses.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being driven. Goals should be set and the status quo needs to be challenged but it should be done in a harmless way. GOD gives me a better way to success.

• Instead of getting my way GOD wants me to get “our” way by being like-minded.
• Instead of fulfilling my ambitions GOD wants me to seek “our” ambitions by being the same in love.
• Instead of winning as an individual GOD wants me to have one mind which causes me to seek the needs of others.

When I go for the prize I put blinders on and I may accidently step on a few toes. “They’ll get over it when I succeed” I think to myself. BUT GOD says they won’t get over it. HE desires unity as my path rather than winning for myself.

“But that person is an idiot” I retort. GOD sees even “that” person different. HE loves them deeply and wants them to succeed just as much as HE wants me to succeed. GOD wants me to have “one mind” which may mean I have to change my mind in order to unify for the purpose of bringing CHRIST’s love to them.

• Are you ambitious?
• Do you seek to get your way?
• Are you blind to how you are seeking your own way?
• Can you begin asking others what they need or want in order to gain unity?