From today's life Journal reading Acts 2
S cripture
There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:5 (NAS)
O bservation
In today’s passage I see what a vision of the church should be, people from every nation (ethnos - ethic group) united in one faith.
A pplication
I am reminded Jesus was a Jew with a multi-ethnic background (read the genealogy in Matthew 1). Again as we look forward to the return of Jesus the bride of Christ there is “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). At New Life one of our values is found in being a multi-ethnic reflection of our community. We need to value one another and see the best in each other even though we come from different experiences with different outlooks. None of us have arrived. None of us know how. All of us are learning. Sometimes we fail, sometimes we forget, sometimes we do well. As Captain and Tennille once said, “Love will Keep Us Together.” As quaint as that sounds, it is Jesus’ love that brings us together and the only thing effective enough to keeps us together through all our differences. Its something we must continue learning. Nothing worth doing comes easy, look at the cross.
Prayer
Father we give you glory for the degree we reflect the bride of Christ you desire us to be. Whether that reflection be in the shape of our face, the color of our skin or the love in our hearts, we affirm Your work and ask You fan our flame of desire. Fan the flame of Your love for one another. May we, more and more, become a Revelation 7:9 church in our community. Amen
