I had the pleasure of seeing our Inn-ja's soccer team today, and let me tell you...
they...
well...
They have an amazing cheer squad behind them! (They also have amazing, dedicated, and vibrant players! Tim Alban had a great score tonight, Tim and Ryan had some awesome saves tonight, and I saw some really great teamwork and hard-play out there on the field!)
At the end of the game someone came up to me and mentioned that the other team wished they had a cheering section like the Inn-ja's did. It made me realize the impact that Christ makes on each and everyone of us as we live our daily lives. (Yes, this just turned into a devo, stick with me for a little while and see if you agree, disagree, or want to comment otherwise.)
Earlier today I went to a site called studentreviews.com to look up my school, and noticed that a large number of the reviews of other colleges on there, especially 'secular' ones, were not only incredibly negative, but nearly hateful and virulent. Now I realize not all the reviews were like this, but it seemed that a larger majority of the negative reviews coming from 'secular' schools were derogatory, mean, etc. than the ones coming from Christian schools. (I hate the term secular, because it creates an us-them mentality, but it is the easiest way to identify the schools I am speaking of.)
Then today, as I procrastinate on my homework, I read from Ephesians 4:1-16 on the unity of the body and giving of gifts to build it up. I can't help but note that there is something that brings Christians together for each other in a way that is different than the world. Yes, we still fight over and have division over inane and not so inane things but when we actively use our gifts to build up the body, to edify and love each other, something happens that is literally out of this world.
So when the other team noticed our cheer squad I kind of got excited, not in a proud kind of way, but in a "things are working the way they should" kind of way.
Finally, I look back at late this morning as I saw one of our own being baptized. Christ Tomlin was baptized while his fiancée Jessica Lowrie helped, and many from the Inn cheered. It was incredible to see the large amount of support behind him and to see the church encouraging and loving each other.
What do you think your gift is?
How are you using it build up the church?
How are you using it build up the world?
-John
P.S.
Congratz to Erin Gonzalez and Jamie Thames on their recent engagement, as well as Michael Thames and Sarah Parsons! Now we just have to wait and see if Emma-jo, Jamie and Michael's younger step-sister will soon be engaged too! Hehe.
3 comments:
John,
You make an excellent point and have brought up a series of scripture that the Inn really should take to heart.
I have read this passage as well and asked God for wisdom on it and so I wish to share my thoughts.
Paul admonishes us to "keep the unity of the Spirit" (v. 3) and to "come to the unity of the faith" (v. 13). The whole passage presses us toward a recognition of our mutual dependence, not only upon Christ, but also upon one another as we learn to minister in love to the need of another. It reveals the Holy Spirit as the source of unity, and "the faith," containing the essential beliefs of the gospel, as the substance of unity. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to bring us together in oneness (not sure if that's a word, but... there you go... oneness), and this oneness is based on the shared belief in Christ as Savior and Lord, His atoning death, His victorious resurrection and His reigning power. The Spirit overcomes our procilvity to self-centeredness, independence, and self-serving. He drawas us together with other believers and creates the miracle of oneness Jesus prayed for in John 17. Our gifts, therefore, are given by God the Father through the Holy Spirit to equip the saints for the ministry and for the instruction and edification of the body of Christ, that we may as one body become fully mature, not tossed to and fro as are children by every wind of doctrine; on the contrary, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head: Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Johnnie,
Great insights - great thoughts. I appreciate your passion and heart for The Inn and am excited to see how God will continue to move in and through us.
L E T S G O - let's go, let's go
L E T S G O - LET'S GO!
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