Our world is broken. Society promotes the idea of doing what you want, life if all about you, and if something doesn’t work for you, dismiss it. Don’t worry about anyone else, you do you! It’s a soul-sucking existence that leads to division and self-centeredness. The results are emptiness and bondage. Many don’t even realize they are caught in this complex social matrix. When you take a look around at our world, the result of this type of mentality is destroying our unity as people, as a nation, as Christians, and dividing families and friendships. Many love to put down Christianity, and certainly many Christians have behaved badly, but would the world be a better or worse place if people lived according to the code that God has set forth in the Bible? You would be hard-pressed to say “worse” to that question. 

Scriptures

Jn 10:10; Mt 16:18-19; Ep 3:10-11, 4:1-3

Verses

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ep 4:1-3)

Thought

Whenever two or more people come together—roommates, marriage, family, work or whatever, someone has to give up an element of freedom. If everyone refuses, you end up with conflict, tension, division and chaos. Whatever the situation, a code exists so that there can be peace, community, so that progress can be made. You may have grown up in a church where there were a lot of rules that became burdensome, most of them starting with the word “Don’t.” Maybe you were turned off by the emphasis on obeying rules rather than loving people. As Christians, we have accepted God’s invitation into a relationship with Him. He wants us to recognize the grace, forgiveness, freedom and patience He’s shown toward us and for us to extend the same toward others. That’s the code that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 4:1-3 (above). When we live according to this code, exercising humility, gentleness, patience and bearing with one another in love, we become the church Jesus came to establish—the new reality that brings heaven to earth, the new Zion. Isn’t that the kind of church you want to be part of? bring a friend to? your kids to be a part of? In order to be that church, we must never lose the sense of awe for what God did for us, for what Jesus did on the cross, for the great patience and acceptance God extends again and again!

Questions

What church rules were emphasized when you were a child? How can rules turn people away from the church? How do rules and judgment become more important than grace and forgiveness? How can disunity hurt the image of God, Christ, and the church? How have your experiences with other believers shaped the way you view God and the church? 

Response

Remember when you accepted God’s invitation to be in a relationship with Him. Thank Him for what he saved you from and for his continued grace and forgiveness no matter how any times you mess up. Respond by practicing humility, gentleness, patience and hanging in there with those you could easily become frustrated with. Keep reminding yourself of God’s patience with you.

Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for inviting me to be part of your family. Help me to invite others into a community of acceptance and grace so that they will come to know you and have a relationship with you. Thank you for my church family, for my brothers and sisters in Christ who extend love and forgiveness. Help us to be a community of unity that helps to mark the lives of many for your kingdom. In Jesus Name I pray, amen.