Awakening - What Can We Do?!
As I was getting ready the other day my brain was thinking about all that the upcoming days would hold. One of which was a meeting between multiple churches. So my brain began to spiderweb itself into thought about all of the churches we have locally. With those thoughts also came the reminders of how divided our community is because of the how the churches differ in some doctrinal beliefs. I did not go to Bible College. I have never studied theology or the doctrines of specific churches. You would be right in saying that I am uneducated in these fields. I will not deny that.
The book I have studied is the Bible. I have yet to read it through, front to back or cover to cover. Over the past 4 years of my salvation I have studied the word of God and the teachings of Jesus. I do have a close personal relationship with my Savior, my God and the Holy Spirit. I am confident in that. Even though I, nor anyone else, do not and will never be able to understand and comprehend fully all there is to know about God or have all of the answers, I know the character of my God.
Because of this I know that I can stand today on my belief that doctrines and fundamental beliefs are good, they are not the answer to who will or will not go to heaven. Doctrines came about because different people believed a little differently than some others. There is not one person on this planet who can answer for God and say that person is going to heaven or hell. We have never been given that place to judge. We will never be given that. You see God looks at our hearts. He knows who he does and does not have a relationship with.
We, as the body of Christ have got to be unified together. We have to put away our differences and decide to come together and stand on the fact that we know and believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to the earth as man and lived a sinless life. That he was beaten and died to carry the weight of our sins and over come death and hell to be resurrected into heaven again with God. All of this so that we can be saved and live under the grace of God.
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
This scripture says it all. How pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! It is THERE (in unity) that the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore! We have to decide if we are going to be a part of this New Thing that God is doing by putting aside our differences and making the choice to live in unity. Unity is defined as the state of being united or joined as a whole; harmony or agreement between people or groups. This doesn't say that unity is just putting up with one another. Just in my little town in Southeastern Oklahoma God has been and continues to create these divine appointments that can play a role in creating unity.
So what will you choose? Will you sit back and continue to stand on your disagreements and watch as God begins this new revolution? Or will you decide to do as God's word commands and make a conscious choice to live in unity with others and be a part of the Awakening?! The choice is yours!
~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford
