Christ's Agreement

July 11, 2021

that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

~I Corinthians 12:25~

Picture a family after a long hard day, all are gathering around the table to eat their dinner. The mother worked hard to cook a meal for her husband and children. She prepared it with love and sacrificial time. As she sets the table the children come barreling in, there are two children fighting over a spot they want to sit at and the other child is complaining because he/she does not want the food mom has prepared. They would perfer something along the lines of mac and cheese. The mother begins to sigh as she tries her best to make the dinner sound appealing to the little one. The two children on the other side are still bickering and dad is attempting to split them up and choose their seats for them. The peace has left the table and suddenly they are enveloped in chaos before even sitting down to eat dinner. The mother begins to feel sad, the father is getting frustrated and the children are angry and confused. There is complete schism in their family. There is no agreement and there is room for more tension now to seep in. The Lord sits by as He watches this family of His become completely turned around from eachother. This story paints a picture of the Body of Christ in some parts of our world today. This schism Paul speaks of, he warns we are to do all we can to avoid it. There needs to be unity in God's children. His desire is for us to love one another as He loves us, in fact He commands we do; "These things I command you, that you love one another." (John 15:17)

As we come together in church, bible study, prayer groups or any kind of worship we are told to have love, mercy and help eachother by doing our part in His Body. We each serve a different role for Jesus; "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function."

(Romans 12:4)

We are each called to take care of others so that the Body can function in peace. This family lacked unity and agreement and in turn peace was taken out of the picture. God calls us into His Son and asks that we make strong bonds out of His love. On our own we may become bitter, judgemental, argumentative or detached all together. With the Lord's help we can gain the strength and grace to tune ourselves into His presence, embracing His love and extending it to our Family. As each member comes together in agreement and respect, the whole squad rests in that joy of heaven as they rejoice over us for our unity. God comes in strong and blesses us in agreement; "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."

(Matthew 18:19)

If we are struggling to be of the same mind concerning love in our family life at home, how much more can we be of the same mind in the church of Christ? We must make that peace with God and allow Him to show us where we need to heal, unite or go our separate ways from. Only He knows what is best in times of true unity and love. We are Christ's members and God is telling us we must have the same care for one another. Division, discourse and turmoil comes from the enemy and we must not feed this beast. Let us overcome it with good; "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

I think that if this family, symbolic to the church family; were to sit down nicely with eachother, respect eachother equally, be satisified with what they each had and received that peace together then our Father in Heaven would rejoice, clap and cry happy tears as He watched His family loving the way He wills. I know there are times when family issues arise and it isnt our fault by any means, times can be rough and we can feel rejected by our own. The Lord never rejects us and there are many folks out there who follow Jesus whole heartedly that is just as much family to us by an even greater Blood.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13)

Let us gather at church, study, worship or at our own dinner table loving one another, seeing as Jesus sees and coming into agreement with all that He died to give to us.

For just as this mother cries out when her family is in despair, Jesus cries even harder as He watches His Church do the same.

Prayer:

Adonai, Almighty One, how thankful I am to have a Family connected to me by Your Son's Blood. Even if I may be struggling in my own home family at this moment, I know You are always with me and I know it is Your will for unity. Lord, I pray peace into my family, agreement to be settled at the table and in the hearts. I pray all of my brothers and sisters come together of the same mind and begin to walk in the Spirit of God over flesh. I repent of my own ways to let emotions dictate reality. I refuse to feed the devil or give him a place. I declare treasured blessings over this day and I praise You for the steadfast love in me that can only come from You. I pray that it grows within the Body of Christ. In the Name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.