What We Have In Common

06 Oct What We Have In Common

Read Galatians 3:23-29

Thought for the Day: Jesus unites us.

In his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis introduces us to a boy named Arthur who unsuccessfully tried to befriend both him and his brother. But, everything changed when Arthur became so ill he couldn’t get out of bed for an extended period. Lewis recounts initially heading over to visit the boy despite the fact that they appeared to have nothing in common. Upon arrival, he was stunned to see a copy of his favorite book, Myths of the Norsemen, lying on the table beside Arthur’s bed. Despite the appearance that they were very different, both boys were able to focus on what they did have in common.

The Apostle Paul carried the Gospel to diverse groups of people all over the world. Despite the fact that those Paul preached to came from a variety of countries, spoke different languages, and had different traditions, they had one very important piece of common ground. All who turned to Jesus became united in Him: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

We live in a time where it seems incredibly hard to find common ground. No matter where we look, people seem to be divided and squabbling over differences. However, as Christians, let’s remember what we have in common. If we focus on what divides us, we will be perpetually frustrated. But, when we focus on our unity through Christ, we can experience the joy C.S. Lewis describes: “Nothing, I suspect, is more astonishing in any man’s life than the discovery that there do exist people very, very like himself.”

In Christ,

Pastors Stan and David