One in Christ
by Pastor Mark Lieschke
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So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith (Galatians 3:26).
Because we are one in Christ, we have the opportunity and responsibility of declaring our unity with those about us – especially those in God’s church who are different from us.
It is not always easy standing side by side with people who dress differently than us, with whom we have had disagreements, who live different lifestyles, or who do not practise their faith as we do, and then declare they are one with us in Christ.
Our natural reaction can be to want people to become more and more like us. If only people could think, speak, act and serve in the way we do, things would be much smoother in the ministry of God’s church and our own congregations.
If only people would think, speak, act and serve the way we do. No! If only people would think, speak, act and serve in the way God wants them to. And that means accepting that there are a lot of very different people within the unity of the body of Christ.
Whatever differences we have, though, God says we are one in him, and because of him, we can work to overcome that which is unhealthy in the life of the church. And as we grow in our unity, live out what we already are, and become more and more what God has made us to be, we model to the world how God wants all people to live.
The church is a microcosm of heaven. We’re here to give a glimpse to others of what it means to live in unity and harmony so that they will want to be part of it and experience our oneness.
Because we are one in Christ, we can give visible examples of Christian love, service and forgiveness. We can show that God is working in and through us. We can be the people of God, serving, encouraging and building each other up. We can be Christlike to each other and the world in all we do and say.
Lord Jesus, thank you for claiming me to be your own. And thank you that you have placed me in a family of believers you also love and are committed to. Please help us honour and respect each other, celebrate our differences, live in harmony and unity, and so give a glimpse of heaven to those around us. Amen.
Mark Lieschke is a retired pastor living on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. He served in parishes in Adelaide, Palmerston North and Marton (New Zealand), and Wagga Wagga (school and congregation), before being elected as bishop of the NSW District of the LCANZ. He and Meredith have four children (two live in Canada) and two grandchildren. Mark enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, walking on the beach and resting.
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