SAME GOAL
Brenda Lineberger
Today’s Scripture: “For the one who is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:40, ESV
Theme: Jesus reminded His disciples that while we are all very different, we can be united on His team.
DIFFERENT BUT THE SAME
Personalities are usually formed early in life and depending somewhat on the environment we grew up in, as well as some inherited traits. We learn some of our belief systems. Yet we can choose not to be defined by that. Moses is a great example of not conforming based on upbringing. He grew up in a palace and could very well have become an Egyptian ruler of some prestige, but he was called to serve the Hebrew people.
COLLABORATION
Moses had the heart to help the Israelites and lead them out of slavery in Egypt, but what he didn't have was self-confidence. After some negotiation, his brother Aaron was chosen to be the speaker of the pair. They both had strengths and weaknesses. They did not even group up in the same home as Moses had been raised with the Egyptians. They clearly had different temperaments. Yet God chose to link them together as leaders and together, they answered God's call. If you remember the movie Jerry Maguire and the line Tom Cruise delivered to Renee Zellweger: "You complete me," a different sentiment of course but kind of describes Moses and Aaron.
OUR ULTIMATE HELPER
Serving the Lord takes people who have different strengths, weaknesses, gifts, and abilities. We need diversity on our teams to lift, push, pull, encourage, and carry one another other if need be. We all have the same goal, to introduce people to Christ. I serve at The Cove as well and not everyone I serve with is like me but together we make a team. And we have the same goal. Let us never forget, we have the gift of the ultimate Helper, The Holy Spirit who brings us together to carry out God's calling. Ancient Biblical wisdom says: “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:10, NIV). That's easy enough to understand that we need one another.
Make it Personal: Are you sitting on the sidelines? I did, it's a lonely place. Do you hesitate to interact with people who are different from you, have different ways of doing things, or have different opinions? Would you consider stepping off the sidelines, uniting with other believers on "HIS" team (the winning team) to complete the work we're called to do? We get to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to serve and witness alongside some pretty amazing brothers and sisters.
Pray: First Lord, I want to thank You for our Bible-teaching, Jesus-loving, people-loving church. You are surely in this place. Lord, I pray that the eyes of our hearts are opened to see that we are all brothers and sisters. We desperately need You and each other to walk this narrow road. I pray the strong person reaches out to help the weak one, and encouragers come alongside the broken and disillusioned, to lift them up. Use us to feed the hungry, food for the body and The Good News for the soul. You are a good Father, and I know You want Your children to come together, love one another, work together, and worship You together. In the Name of Jesus. Amen
Read: Exodus 3:13-16; Ecclesiastes 4:11-12; John 14:26
Weekly Memory Verse: For the one who is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:40, ESV