“There is neither jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 ESV
My God word for today was “one.” This attribute of God is also reflected in His children. I have never experienced the amount of unity in organizations that I have found in the groups involved with my fellow Christians.
Probably the one I’ve been associated with the longest is my writer’s group. Shortly after losing a job for a Christian agency, I was at a loss and looking for purpose in my life outside of the usual ways I serve the Lord with family and friends. A friend took me to her church to meet with other women who were interested in writing. We sat on rocking chairs in the nursery, writing as directed by prompts given to us by the two leaders. I left that night sixteen years ago totally encouraged with the discovery that I could write. We still meet bimonthly, now in our leader’s home, and continue to share our gifts, encouraging and critiquing each other in a gentle way. As well, our group text allows us to keep in prayer for one another even outside of our group times. We are united in gifts as well as in faith. Some of our members have been successful in publishing books, plays, articles, blogs and even songs.
Another newer group is through my church, A Bible study, of which I’m a co-leader. Over ten years or so, I’ve had various members, but always wonderful ladies desiring to learn more from the Bible. Currently, our church has over a thousand members in small groups who meet in church, homes, and online to follow our PBJ (Prayer, Bible, Journal) directions through the word or other Bible studies. This dividing into groups makes a mega church small. Again, prayer is a vital part of each group and carries our relationships into each other’s lives for a closer relationship with each other and our Lord.
Finally, the third group of which I’m a part calls itself a family, which shows how close the group members are. Composed of five couples and four widows, we meet bimonthly in the founding couple’s home with occasional trips to restaurants. Middle aged or older, we’re all going through similar health issues and family trials and victories. Our main purpose is fellowship in prayer. Throughout my recent cancer journey, I felt solid prayer and other support from those brothers and sisters in Christ. Most meetings are characterized by hilarious laughter or concern for each other’s troubles. We care about each other deeply as well as by our Lord. So, the term family is perfect.
I must mention my church as well. Along with the above-mentioned unity in groups, I experience this same unity as I worship in song and through the sermons during church services. I also feel a purpose in getting to know new forever friends as I sit in the back row and welcome them, instead of feeling sorry that as a widow, I am there unaccompanied.
United in Christ with my brothers and sisters, I stand.