Together as One

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

(Romans 15:7, NKJV)

It is observed that a people united are strong together and so we celebrate our diversities for they allow us to enjoy differing talents and abilities.  As people who need someone else, we are well advised to love on each other and to accept them as they are.  This however is the ideal while in reality, we are busy looking for reasons to separate ourselves from others.  We have all sorts of “isms” coming into play, for example, tribalism, ageism etc.  When these “isms” are applied, they are meant to bring the differences in the groups of people.  The differences are not per se wrong, they are at times factual, the question is how those differences are applied.  When considered as something worthy of appreciation, it becomes an element of celebration as differing abilities strengthen the community or people group.  However, when these differences are used for discrimination, the society fabric is weakened.  Each one of us is different from another, our finger prints are a confirmation to us that God created each one of us different from others.  We therefore must not only look out for homogeneous people groups for in reality, there will still be differences even with identical twins.  Our diversities are a plan and design of God,

Our reference verse comes from a passage of the bible which calls on us to carry each other’s burden.  None of us is strong in all areas, but in the areas of our strength, we are to serve each other and in so doing, edifying one another.  We are reminded that our Lord Jesus did not deserve to go through the pain that He did, but He allowed Himself to go through it for our own good.  Beloved, when our connection and service to each other is weighed against what our Saviour had to undergo, we cannot be stop to ask ourselves how we have served others with our talents and strengths.  The passage continues to invite us to be of the same mind as Jesus Christ and in so being, we glorify our Father in heaven (Romans 15:1-6).  It is against this background that we get the verse above. Understanding the foundation of our own salvation and life in Christ, we are now called upon to consider and receive others and yes, it is to the glory of God.  Brethren, through our experiences with others we might have been hurt or even nurtured to think differently of other people whether or not they are like us, but the word of God calls us back to the realization that we stand with brethren because Jesus our Lord chose to stand with us.  In the same passage, there is a reminder that what has been written down is for our learning (Romans 15:4), we therefore have no excuse not to take the the lesson shared. 

Beloved, I share this as one who also needs to learn to love as our Lord loves us, it is a journey that we take on a daily basis.  It is a call to live as we have learnt from our Saviour and glory be to God that with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can make strides which break the barriers that the world has erected.  Jesus told us that the world will recognize us as His followers by our love (John 13;35).  When we love others, we shall honour them and respect them, not because of what they have or do, but because of who they are – children of God just as we are.  It is a thing about family, regardless of the differences, we stand as a family of God, united in the love and care of our Lord Jesus.  Our individual characteristics and abilities, are for the strengthening of the body of Christ and so we arise to celebrate the differences that each one of us brings to the family. 

Thoughts:

How have you considered others?

What has influenced your perspective of others?

Is there someone you need to extend Christ-like acceptance to?