Faith Filled Family Magazine December 2016 | Page 63

cause of our special bond one
for another. He longed that we
get along. That we be unified in
Him and through Him to one another.

disagreements within the body
of Christ is a direct reflection of
our intimacy with the Father. Do
we rise up in offences? Bitterness? Hatred? Anger? Strife?
Or do we demonstrate love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?

The key to aligning ourselves
to what the Word says is to allow the word to become alive in
us. It becomes a part of us, active within us. Through our intimacy with God and our time in
Unity doesn’t mean we will alHis presence, learning His word,
ways agree with one another or
bearing the fruit of the Spirit, we
that we are even meant to agree
begin to grow in the image of
with each other at all times, no!
Christ and the Word flourishes in
What it means is that even in our “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, and through us!
disagreements we still operate joy, peace, patience, kindness,
in love for one another bearing goodness, faithfulness, gentle- “For the word of God is alive and
fruit and operating by the fruit of ness, and self-control.” —Gala- active. Sharper than any douthe spirit in our disagreements. tians 5:22–23
ble-edged sword, it penetrates
Instead of being angry with my
even to dividing soul and spirit,
brother or sister in Christ be- When Jesus spoke He didn’t joints and marrow; it judges the
cause they don’t agree with what argue. He was presented with thoughts and attitudes of the
I have to say, I show them kind- many opportunities to argue, heart.” —Hebrews 4:12
ness. I respond in gentleness. I that’s for sure! The Pharisee’s
exhibit love…
challenged His every word and Jesus was the word made flesh
action. They would ask Him very (Jn. 1:14). He came into the
Are we measuring up to God’s pointed questions to try and stir world as the light to shine a light
standard?
up debate and argument. But on how we are meant to live our
Jesus, being the manifestation lives on the earth. Jesus shined
Are we measuring up? Well… of wisdom, didn’t fall for it. Jesus a light on the true heart of God.
I don’t know that we are. I see would ask a question, share a Through parables like the prodia lot of bickering these days. It parable, or simply demonstrate gal son in the book of Luke we
would seem that more bickering the response. He was aware of are given a glimpse at the charoccurs within the body of Christ the motives of the one asking acter of the Father.
than even outside of it. My obser- the question. With the Pharisees
vation is that it seems as though the motives were not simple cu- We are the salt of the earth and
we need to be right all the time riosity but entrapment and pride. a light to the world (Matthew
and if someone disagrees with They wanted to “catch him” do- 5:13–14). We are to live as one
us we rise up against that per- ing something contrary to their body, the body of Christ, represon instead of hear them out. law.
senting Jesus by our fruit to a
Perhaps if we listened to each
lost and dying world. Jesus said
other a little more we could learn I think often times we view our the world would know us by our
from the other person. Even if brothers and sisters in Christ as fruit and by our unity one to anthe other person is totally off having these kinds of motives. other.
base we’ve at least shown them As though with every question
kindness. We’ve represented Je- we are presented the motive is If we are continually fighting
sus well in our ability to lay down to trap us, corner us or make us and bickering with one another
our own need to be right and look bad. Friend, that can’t be we create a distraction from the
we’ve entertained the idea and the case. And even if it were— very One we are trying to point
viewpoint of another. Whether or let’s choose to respond the way others toward—Jesus. Instead
not we change our stance isn’t Jesus would.
of arguing the best way to point
the point, it’s that we’re willing to
people to Jesus is to live as Paul
humble ourselves and hear the How can we align ourselves to wrote in Ephesians 4 and bear
other’s heart. How we handle what the Word says?
the fruit of the Spirit by spend-