Our church's today constantly preach on how we should love one another, how we should accept all people, and reach out to all, but how can we do this if there are people within our own church's who feel alone, neglected, and left out?
When we want to make a change in our lives we always start with ourselves right? It's the same with this issue. The change starts within the church.
We go through constant ups and downs of being a united, tight knit group, to being made up of cliques. Some people don't realize that this even occurs. The solution is found when we examine our own hearts. Do you welcome everyone around you? Are there people that you don't talk to simply because they never talk to you? Do you make an effort to include everyone or do you stay within your own comfortable group of friends? I'm not saying all this to step all over your conscience. I'm telling you this so we can all begin to realize that it is not ok for people to walk out of a supposedly place of love and open arms, feeling dejected and unwanted. No one wants to feel this way. We've all been there at one time.
I am most certainly guilty of staying in my own little group of friends and not making an effort to reach out to other people. It becomes a pattern. We become lazy. The moment we stop making the effort to reach out within our church, is the moment it becomes difficult to reach out to people outside of those four walls.
The Bible has many verses about unity. I encourage you to study them on your own, to break down His word, and meditate on it. Don't just read it, chew on the words and discover the deep meanings of the scripture. For now, here's a few for you to munch on:
"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." 1 Corinthians 1:10
"For the body does not consist of one member but of many" 1 Corinthians 12:14
I challenge you! Examine your heart and ask yourself if you have made an effort to truly unify your church. I'm not saying this is all on you, but one person can start a change. That's all it takes. You can plant the seed! Let's not settle for seasons of unity, let's make it a permanent lifestyle. We can do this!
Love,
Jessie Childs
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