DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY - THE UNITY OF HIS FAMILY.

There are two ways of being united -- one is by being frozen together, and the other is by being melted together. What Christians need is to be united in brotherly love, and then they may expect to have power. - Moody's Anecdotes.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. - Ephesians 4:1-3.

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. - A.W. Tozer.

As we draw near to the best time of the year for communicating the Gospel, you would think that unity amongst God’s family would be automatic, not so. In the past few weeks there has been some unnecessary mud slinging between certain blogs, and regardless of who is right or wrong, it’s totally wrong, especially at this time of the year. In my humble opinion, to add in, or comment on these arguments, is to damage the Gospel of Christ, when it is needed most.

Christians and non-Christians alike hate to see good and decent people fighting amongst themselves, over some meaningless points scoring and ego massaging. The man in the street with a broken family isn’t interested in their feuds; he is trying to figure out how to stay sane over the Christmas holidays.

The same could be said for the homeless, the Homosexual, the divorced, the abused, the drunk, the addict etc; all of these people need to hear the gospel of love, acceptance, and forgiveness, at this time. We must give up the petty squabbles, and infighting, what we need is a concerted effort to get this message out.

Charles Colson tells of a frustrated prison psychiatrist who exclaimed, "I can cure a person's madness, but not his badness." The only way to make bad people good is to expose them to the gospel. Even Charles Darwin, the man who contributed so much to evolutionistic thinking, admitted this. He wrote to a minister: "Your services have done more for our village in a few months than all our efforts for many years. We have never been able to reclaim a single drunkard, but through your services I do not know that there is a drunkard left in the village!"

Later Darwin visited the island of Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of South America. What he found among the people was horrifying--savagery and bestiality almost beyond description. But when he returned after a missionary had worked among the people, he was amazed at the change in them. He acknowledged that the gospel does transform lives. In fact, he was so moved by what he saw that he contributed money to the mission until his death. – Source Unknown.

Effort, sweat, and dedication seem to have become the vulgarity of Western Christianity. To our age of grace-abusers, the Holy Spirit reaches out with his truth, and reminds us that relationships on earth, even those in Jesus' Church, are going to require a lot of effort, gritty love, personal sacrifice, and rigorous determination.

The strongest argument for the Gospel of Christ is the personal testimony of someone whose life has been changed by it. Charles Bradlaugh, an avowed infidel, once challenged the Rev. H.P. Hughes to a debate. The preacher, who was head of a rescue mission in London, England, accepted the challenge with the condition that he could bring with him 100 men and women who would tell what had happened in their lives since trusting Christ as their Savior.

They would be people who once lived in deep sin, some having come from poverty-stricken homes caused by the vices of their parents. Hughes said they would not only tell of their conversion, but would submit to cross-examination by any who doubted their stories. Furthermore, the minister invited his opponent to bring a group of non-believers who could tell how they were helped by their lack of faith.

When the appointed day arrived, the preacher came, accompanied by 100 transformed persons. But Bradlaugh never showed up. The result? The meeting turned into a testimony time and many sinners who had gathered to hear the scheduled debate were converted. – Source Unknown.

When we read Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17, how could we not make every effort to keep his Body unified and our relationship with his people loving and patient? Since our salvation was purchased at the cost of Jesus' sweat and blood, how can we shrink back when our best efforts are required to preserve the unity of his family?

“…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21.

"To remain divided is sinful! Did not our Lord pray, that they may be one, even as we are one"? (John 17:22). A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, "Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless... Unite, unite!"

Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord's prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the Gospel. - Charles H. Spurgeon.

Let’s make a real go of preserving unity amongst His family, in order that the people, who most need to hear of His love, acceptance, and forgiveness, will hear it loud and clear, without distraction! Hallelujah, blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus!

Loving Father, forgive my impatience with others and lack of forgiveness for them. Stir your Holy Spirit within me to control my tongue, soften my heart, and extend more of an effort to others who need your blessing. Please use me to be a peacemaker in your Kingdom, O Lord. In the wonderful Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY