"Can't we all just get along?" Its a famous and often humorous tagline to many conflicts in our lives. In 1992, Rodney King made this statement during the LA riots. He is usually misquoted as I have done here, having originally said, Can we all get along. Regardless of the particular words, the thought behind this phrase has been declared decade after decade for centuries.
As a worship pastor, it is my prayer that we as believers would love each other more than we love ourselves. More than we love our preferences. More than we love our styles and genres. Romans 12:10 implores us to honor each other. Philippians 2:3 calls us to do nothing from vain conceit but in humility, considering others before ourselves.
Among Jesus' last prayers were these words... I pray also for those who will believe in me, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me. (John 17:20-23)
Jesus desired us to love each other. To be in each other as he was in the Father. How well do you know the person you worship next to on Sunday morning? Do you know them well? Are you even trying to know them? Do you know them so well that you would say you know the inside of their mind? Do you care about them that much? From Jesus' words... if we worship together truly knowing one another better and living with one another in humility, there will be a much greater sense of unity. And that unity will make God famous. It will draw others to Him who are lost.
Isn't that why we are here? To make him known?
Occasionally, we may think that our lives together as brothers and sisters will be better in heaven. Without the conflict. No one will bother each other. Where we "can all just get along". Yes. That is true. But this life is practice for an eternity to come. Why wait?
Occasionally, we may think that our worship together as brothers and sisters will be better in heaven. Without the conflict. No one will use the music we don't like. Where we "can all just get along". But why wait? Jesus calls us to this now. Today.
"To dwell with the saints above we love in grace and glory, but to live below with the saints we know, that's a different story." It's a phrase I heard somewhere, that I can't find an original source for, nevertheless true. We yearn for the day to be in heaven with those brothers and sisters when everything will be perfect. Yet we lose sight of the fact that those we worship with here on earth, those same brothers and sisters whose choices in life and preference of worship styles irritate us, are going to be the same brothers and sisters standing beside us in heaven.
Ironic?
Why not get to know and love them now? You'll be standing next to them for eternity.
worship Him 24/7...
scott
As a worship pastor, it is my prayer that we as believers would love each other more than we love ourselves. More than we love our preferences. More than we love our styles and genres. Romans 12:10 implores us to honor each other. Philippians 2:3 calls us to do nothing from vain conceit but in humility, considering others before ourselves.
Among Jesus' last prayers were these words... I pray also for those who will believe in me, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me. (John 17:20-23)
Jesus desired us to love each other. To be in each other as he was in the Father. How well do you know the person you worship next to on Sunday morning? Do you know them well? Are you even trying to know them? Do you know them so well that you would say you know the inside of their mind? Do you care about them that much? From Jesus' words... if we worship together truly knowing one another better and living with one another in humility, there will be a much greater sense of unity. And that unity will make God famous. It will draw others to Him who are lost.
Isn't that why we are here? To make him known?
Occasionally, we may think that our lives together as brothers and sisters will be better in heaven. Without the conflict. No one will bother each other. Where we "can all just get along". Yes. That is true. But this life is practice for an eternity to come. Why wait?
Occasionally, we may think that our worship together as brothers and sisters will be better in heaven. Without the conflict. No one will use the music we don't like. Where we "can all just get along". But why wait? Jesus calls us to this now. Today.
"To dwell with the saints above we love in grace and glory, but to live below with the saints we know, that's a different story." It's a phrase I heard somewhere, that I can't find an original source for, nevertheless true. We yearn for the day to be in heaven with those brothers and sisters when everything will be perfect. Yet we lose sight of the fact that those we worship with here on earth, those same brothers and sisters whose choices in life and preference of worship styles irritate us, are going to be the same brothers and sisters standing beside us in heaven.
Ironic?
Why not get to know and love them now? You'll be standing next to them for eternity.
worship Him 24/7...
scott