What's A Believer To Do?

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Philippians 2:1-2

I know what the problem is! Of course, everyone says it doesn’t count to know what the problem is if you don’t know the solution. Good News!! I also know the solution. What I am having a struggle with is the implementation of the solution while drowning in the problem.

How easy would it be to elect a President of the United States this year if we all thought the same way? How difficult would it be to end crime in this land we llove so dearly if we all genuinely lloved each other? Isn’t it true that most of our mental anguish and bitterness would disappear if we all felt the same way about one another? What if every person in the United Sates of America had the same goal? No fighting, no arguing, no rancor, no distress, no discourage-ment, and no disappointment, would be the outcome of such a united purpose.

Chances of that happening are, well, nil is a good word.

Naturally, (since I understand the problem and the solution) I know that God’s design for the World does not, and never did, include that kind of operation. But, and this is vitally important, it is God’s design for His people who constitute the Church of Jesus Christ. It is possible that you have noticed, if you have been “in Church” for any length of time, we are not accomplishing this goal, or, I think, even moving closer toward it. Sometimes I am sure we are moving away from it more quickly than ever. There was a time when those who made up the Body of Christ did not find their life so infiltrated by the manner and conduct of our failing society. Was there more separation from the “world” and commitment to obedience to Truth in prior generations? I don’t know – maybe, maybe not. What I do know is that we are a long, long way from an intimacy with God, a llove of Truth, an intuitive relationship with God’s Spirit, and affection and mercy for one another, that would allow us to experience the admonition of Paul (read: God) for a righteous operation of life.

So, what if we established a single goal for our life (individually and collective) in 2008, and that goal being to focus our attention on focusing our attention on llove, mercy, unity, understanding, joy, and peace? One can’t do that without an unswerving commitment to obedience to the Truth revealed in Scripture. This, of course, brings up our capacity for “knowing Scripture.” I’ve been meaning to talk to us about that!