. . . so that there may be no division in the body, but so that the parts may have the same care for one another.
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer together.
If one part is honored, all the parts rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Messiah, and members individually. 1 Corinthians 12:25-27, TLV
“We’re in this together,” right? Actually, it should be, “Together, we’re in this.” I like that. In America, we prefer the individuality part better than the whole. It wasn’t always that way, but then again it was.
Not too long ago, there was a generation (born from 1901-1927) — sometimes called “The Greatest Generation” — who persevered through difficult times and strived for*:
- Personal Responsibility
- Humility
- Work Ethic
- Frugality
- Commitment
- Integrity
- Self-Sacrifice
Yet, this generation also produced white supremacy groups and imprisoned innocent US citizens of Asian and German descent.
Don’t let the violent past corrupt our hope for the future
We can learn from the good examples and watch carefully for any signs of the negative. Because we as followers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are redeemed by His Son, Jesus, must strive to be One Body. Individually accountable as stewards of our gifts as this chapter instructs, but, one.
During Paul’s time, there was great prejudice from the Jewish people against the Gentiles. It was difficult for them to “switch gears” after thousands of years of persecution from the nations. Plus God Himself had commanded them to not associate with the pagan nations — until the “set time” would come to go to the nations.
Now that the set time had come, the new non-Jewish believers were ignorant of even the basics of how to live a Biblical life, so I’m sure it would have been easier to just segregate. Which, unfortunately, we know happened too often.
Good News
Yes, we know historically, as the Gentile believers increased in numbers, the original Hebrew influences were purged. Many horribly incorrect doctrines were created and still affect us today. But . . .
The good news, Yeshua prayed to His Father that we would be one as He and His Father were one.
“I pray not on behalf of these only, but also for those who believe in Me through their message, that they all may be one. Just as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, so also may they be one in Us, so the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21, TLV
Why is this good news? Because the Father will answer His Son’s prayer. We will be one. So, let’s strive and cooperate with our Father to make that happen. Then, the world will know and believe that the Father sent Yeshua to them.
Understanding now why there is so much riding on this? Unity — One Body — brings world revival. Just sayin’ this is important!
*Excerpt take from: https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/greatest-generation-years-characteristics/
