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unity among people :: Monday E-Devotion

1 Peter 3:8 (nlt) --- Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
 
Last evening some of our Community family was part of worship at the House of Prayer church in Martinsville.  It was a sweet time as we revisited some of our Chase the Lion  series and talked about facing our fears.  Yesterday morning we continued our series Confessions of a Pastor with a discussion of the fact that we just don't like some Christians.
 
Thus, I come this morning knowing that God is working on us and making us more and more like Jesus.  Think about it.  Are we letting God live through us, or are we acting like our old selves?  Does that make sense?  God's desire is for us to become like Christ.
 
I get around people that make me mad and that often give Jesus a bad name.  Then I get around others that make me smile and I know make God happy, too.  What is the difference?  It is the fact of who we are serving and who is getting the glory.  Life is all about Jesus.  Not about you or me.  It is either self or savior.  It is either all about me or all about God.  Truth be known...life is sweeter when lived for God and the good of others.
 
That is what God is seeking to do in the church, among His people.  He wants our hearts to be one.  A huge thing happening this coming June (and that we are going to be part of) is One Prayer where churches across the world are coming together, will pray together and unite our hearts.  God is all about making a difference in the people around us.
 
Colossians 3:12-14 (nasb) --- So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
 
I love that passage.  Shared it Sunday with The Community family and see how God is working to bring us together FOR HIS GOOD and not for our glory.  In a blog post this morning from Swerve, Craig Groeschel gave us some great thoughts about the ministry culture we are part of (our personal ministry and the one we plus into).  I leave you with these thoughts from his post and ask you to seek the Lord to unify your church, your heart and of those you around often!!!
 
Creating a healthy ministry culture takes prayer, hard work and intentionality.

Changing an existing culture generally takes more prayer, harder work, more intentionality, patience, endurance and more hard work. 

You might have stepped into a ministry role with a culture that:

  • Doesn't care about evangelism
  • Has poor stewardship habits
  • Competes with other ministry areas within the church
  • Thinks it is succeeding when it isn't
  • Has lost touch with what is happening in the world
  • Puts systems and procedures ahead of people
  • Has a scarcity mindset

If you're the leader, it is your role to become the catalyst for change.

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