Knit Together part 3
Stop me if you've heard this before--actually, don't. Because you have heard this before. Just roll with it. Because this is one of my favorite passages from the Bible, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1-3). So much good stuff there. I've preached and Ranted many times--and probably will again--about walking worthy of your calling. Staying in your lane. Doing what you were created to do, and not over-extending yourself. Doing what you were created to do... by loving people. That's what you were created to do. Period. You were created to be loved by God and to love Him back by loving others with that love. That's our purpose. Our EPIC (Eternal Purpose In Christ) Destiny. That's what this life is for and that's what this life is all about. Here's the thing though: As simple as it is, it's not always easy. It takes longsuffering. Forbearing. Endeavoring. Love is not a feeling. It is a decision. A decision to lay your life down for your friends. To give everything you have and everything you are without worrying about what comes next. Just doing your part and letting that be enough. Loving people the best that you can and letting that be enough. Because the straight fact is: You're not going to get along with everybody that you come into contact with. Some people are just not going to pick up what you're laying down. And that's ok. You don't have to be for everybody. Just reach the people you can reach. That old saying by Mother Theresa, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." The people you are intimately connected with are the people you can affect the most. So pour yourself into those people. Keep the unity of the Spirit with those people. In the bond of peace. Knit yourself together with the people in your tribe. Strengthen those bonds by giving what you've got. Not by trying to get something. You already have everything you need. You're a prisoner of the Lord. That means He's responsible for you. He has to take care of you, if I can say it that way. And He WANTS to. Look at Luke 13:34, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" He wants to cover us with His wings. Lead us, guide us, direct us, and protect us. He wants to take care of us. He wants us to feel safe with Him. To accept everything He has given us. We don't need to take care of ourselves when we understand that He is taking care of us! And don't get me wrong, we still need to take care of business. Hygene, bills, eating, drinking, all of that basic level stuff. But on a Spiritual level... all we need to do is let God do what He wants to do. What He IS doing. What He has already done. HE has knit us together with Himself. That's why (and how) we can knit ourselves together with each other. Love is the thread that ties us all together!