Oneness and Peace in Christ

We each are unique due to God creating us for a specific reason and time. We alone are masterpieces, but we also fit into a much greater work, the family of Christ. Here we can learn and grow in our purpose and be fully one with the body of Christ.

Eph 2:10-18 NLT

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

11 Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called "the uncircumcised ones" by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He has united Jews and you Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and to us Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

I belong to a vibrant church that does a great deal of community service, has many great talents, and pulled through some amazing troubles all because we strive to do what Christ has asked us to. Is it easy? No. Do we always get along? No. However, when we keep our eyes on Christ and the purpose He set before us, great things are accomplished.

I believe God loves great variety. We have all ages in our church, there is not a generation missing. All ages join in the various ministries making our church one of those odd places where 80% of the members have ministries they do in the church, from cleaning to administering to teaching. All of them are important to keep a vibrant service intact.

We come from many nationalities and backgrounds. Many different ideas come out of those experiences that could clash in other environments, but with Jesus as our focal point we learn how to gain a synergy together. People that may never have become friends outside of church have deep relationships. Knowing Jesus and His love for us allows us to love others and help them stay close to God no matter where we came from.

Just like Gentile and Jew were united in the beginning under Christ, all of us can come together as one. We can find our place in a new and great family with God as our Father. United we can face the trials and tribulations of life easier and complete the missions God put in our hearts.

I’m glad I accepted Jesus and He planted me in wonderful places as I followed Him. He can do the same for you if you let him.