United in Christ

"All the believers were together and had everything in common. . ."  Acts 2:44

A prayer over a meal at church tonight left me pondering the thought. . . what brought all of us together?  What can a mechanic, chaplain, lab technician, schoolteacher, stay at home mom, and nurse have in common that would cause us to drop our lives and fellowship with one another?  How could all of our paths possibly have met to form bonds of friendship and love?

The answer. . . Christ.

I know you because I know Him. 

He is the common link.  It is in seeking the Savior that we found each other.  It is out of obedience to Him and  hearts willing to serve that we have found one another. 

I thought of all the people I had met throughout life.  Friendships in childhood stemming from a healthy church life.  Running wild through mountain meadows with ponytailed girls who loved laughter and the Lord.  Kindred spirits growing in grace.  Later in high school days, learning sign language to songs, to praise my Savior.  Learning more about Him in an atmoshpere of love, challenging one another to forsake hypocrisy and embrace full life in Christ.  Going to college, feeling the freedom of salvation through worship and friendship.  Late nights in dorms chatting about cafeteria food, boys, and God's will.  Seminary days with a new husband, joining a beautiful community of saints - going deep in the Word - fleshing out the Gospel.  Then serving in the church, serving the body of Christ as pastor's wife, Sunday School teacher. . . humbled by gray haired saints, speaking wisdom to young ears.  And now, finding a new body of believers to share in the joy of Christ.  Putting away the masks, embracing the truth, being real with real God followers.

My lifetime has overflowed with relationships - but how did I know every single one of these people?
Because of Christ.  He is the answer.  He is the one who binds us.

In our yearning to seek Him we have found each other. 

In our striving for the Savior, He has given us a great gift.  The gift of community.  The gift of friendship.  The gift of knowing we are not alone in this walk.  The gift of helping, encouraging, admonishing, uplifting other soldiers of the cross. 

Imagine what God must see when He looks down from high heaven on His beloved creation.  At any given moment there are thousands of prayers being offered up on wind's whispers to find their way to the ears of the Caring One.  Men and women, old and young, black, white, brown, yellow, a million beautiful faces looking up to the Father.  Thousands of men and women serving every day to be the hands and feet of the Gospel - speaking the Good News, caring for the widowed and orphaned, serving the homeless, writing words to encouarge others in their faith, crying with the broken friend, baking for the sickness stricken home - all of these acts of love being done because of the greatest Love. 

We find our unity in Christ.  We are one in Him alone.

We are eternally bonded to one another through the Savior. 

Paul's words say it best - read the Word slowly - soak it in - let it be lived in you.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."  Romans 15:5-7