Common denominators are essential in mathematics. It is how one goes about dividing. Anytime we find a common denominator we can begin the division. Division breaks down a whole into parts. It takes a larger sum and turns it into a smaller summation. At times we need these smaller units to handle things. But why are we talking math???
When we hold a $100 dollar bill in our hands and go into a service station or convenience store to get a refreshment and begin to pay for it, a $2.00 drink would cause the clerk to return $98.00 in change. Most cash registers don’t carry that much for change especially if it's the beginning of a shift. So what do you do? You decide to go to a bank and exchange the $100 bill for smaller denominations. The break down can be in any fashion that equals $100. It’s between you and the bank teller to decide. This exchange allows for the procurement of the soft drink with a more suitable monetary means then before. Using a $5 bill for a $2 purchase makes everyone a bit happier!
So why are we discussing denominations and money? I don’t know it’s not my story! It’s your’s. It’s about the church! For a time, division set in in the body of Christ. It set one brother against another. It caused people to forge new lives in other parts of the country, continent, and world. It sent the church searching for freedom! This apparent evil was designed to harm, isolate, and minimize the impact of the movement of Christ. It was to limit His body from unifying. And in a short window of time it appeared to succeed.
Yes, life is full of logical events and equations. If this then this. One outcome based upon another or as Isaiah once put it… one precept upon another precept or line upon line (28:10). Yes in the construction of things, there is a logic we follow. It helps in the way we live our lives. It is something we do. We build line upon line… bricks upon bricks… we form walls and construct buildings and homes this way. We find a way forward. But what happens when you can’t see?
We look to the Author and Finisher of our faith! The One who sat down at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12: 2). We believe that something which isn’t seen is happening. It is forming. It is faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11: 1).” And it goes on… Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses… the eleventh chapter of Hebrews talks of the faith of the forefathers. Even though they didn’t receive the finished promise… they believed and it was counted as good!
The writer of the book of Hebrews would go on to say that patriarchs weren’t added unto the finished line unto we came along so we wouldn’t be left out. But their faith saw the days where they would come forward! They, of old, sought Him and have received their reward (Hebrews 11: 6). Now is the time for us to fight the good fight of faith so we too can receive our reward! Whether or not we see it to completion is not our worry, but our job is to build upon the precepts that have been laid out.
Our time is now. We have been divided and broken into smaller portions as the body of Christ. But He is calling us back together for this great move. Each piece serves a role and is needed. The many denominations will have to unify in His Spirit to move forward. Advance. Yes, it’ll be for the healing of the nations and the biggest revival of our life times! Maybe since the book of Acts! Maybe bigger! Let us not kill our faith by seeing a way out. Even when we can’t see it physically let us move together in the faith of Jesus and with Jesus. Let us not divide at this time. Let us reassemble the smaller dollars and turn it in for the largest bill.
When we pray, “Our Father, who is in heaven. Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, sins, trespasses, as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. For thine is the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen (Matthew 6: 9-13). Let that be our anthem. Let His Spirit lead us into His truth. Didn’t Jesus pray for this in John 17?
U.N.I.T.Y.
A coming together. A unification. A joining up. A laying aside of differences and focusing on the commonalities shared.
Today, let us not put off one another in disgust or disdain. But let us find a common ground and a way to serve the Lord together. If this, then… what God is bringing together let no one tear apart.
What divided us in the past caused the body of Christ to fill the earth. We are spread across many lands and waters and hold different aspects of a common faith. What the world seeks to globalize in humanism, God will truly do in the spirit. What was done for harm has been turned into God’s goodness where we will take back the ancient pathways. “Thus saith the LORD, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 6: 16)…’”
Godspeed, The Journeyman
Ps. Today’s entry took a couple of surprising turns. I love it when the story that was set out for becomes something more and a bit different! Pray church. Believe Church. We are not alone! Love you all!
Isaiah 28: 10 KJV “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
Jeremiah 6: 16 KJV “Thus saith the LORD, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…’”
Matthew 6: 9-13 KJV “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 11: 1 KJV “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11: 6 KJV “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 12: 2 KJV “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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