Romans 15:5-7

It seems unity within the body is a big thought that is streaming through churches all across the world in the recent weeks. I heard a number of sermons and podcasts on the push to be united as a body of Christ. You can see the reasons for such a need for unity in our world today. Friends are divisive over ideas and preferences, families are torn apart by extremely busy schedules, and even American political parties are split into smaller, ideologically rigid sub-parties. Unity isn't apart of our culture on any secular level.

And then there's the church...

The American church is no better than the culture it resides in. In my small city there are 18 Christian denominations and around 60 churches in a 20 mile radius of downtown. All of these divided on matters of theology, church autonomy or worship preference. Yet, even within these individual church is division and frustration. People who want certain styles of music...people who demand a particular standard of dress among the congregation...ministries for every age and social demographic. Unity is by all accounts dead in the American church and it is by our own doing.

I have been going through a series with my youth ministry on the "Hope We Have in God". I finished the series on the need for unity in the body of Christ and for us to be always encouraged and to push our brothers and sisters in Christ in their relationship with God. This fellowship and encouragement is crucial in our faith. It is vital to know there are others who share my struggles in the faith, those who love me, those who God is using me to mentor, etc. We all play a role in the body and that is to the glory of God. I love the truth of Romans 15:5-6:

"Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice."

God is glorified by our unity. Our pursuit of Him as we push each other along is a means by which we glorify God as a unit. Before we can become a global, united body of Christ we must become a united local church and then a united group of municipal believers. So whether you are from the UK, Canada, Australia or the States there is still the tie that binds us all...

Unity. from arielamaro video on Vimeo.

...our faith!

Christians are bound by our relationship with the Father. So its time to live like what I was redeemed to be.

Live like His Heir. Live like children of God.

Proverbs 3:5-7

I find myself regularly looking at my faith and truly assessing how my relationship with Christ is. At times I find myself in an intimate vibrant relationship with God. At other times I am completely distant from God and incredibly weak in my faith. Then there is this strange "in between" area with regards to my walk with Christ. Its that time in our faith when we are complacent in our faith. I like to see it as "Fat and Happy Faith". It's that time in my life when things are going well enough so that I am not seeking God and I am simply happy with where my faith is. Unfortunately, this makes my faith stagnant, lukewarm and void of passion. God shook me out of one of these apathetic faith moments as I read Proverbs 3:5-7 ->

" Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don't consider yourself to be wise; fear the LORD and turn away from evil."

After reading this Scripture God made it painfully evident where my trust was. I trusted in the provision of God...I did not trust Him in so many other areas of my life such as Him being my Counselor, my Hope, my Refuge, my Identity, my Redeemer, my Daddy. I look to God to grant me things. When I was in need I was broken and desperate. When I was showered with grace I was grateful and full of praise.

But the in between was the issue in my faith. If I was not desperate and if I was not being blessed beyond measure then I was simply content to wait for the next monumental faith moment in my life. I was harming my faith by pursuing God's gifts and not only God, my Redeemer and Father. I did not think about God in all of my ways...I only gave Him some consideration. I had a tendency to pursue a relationship with His Grace and not a relationship with the One who is my Father regardless of what I feel or experience.

It is the faith of Isaiah that I desire. Isaiah was a prophet to a people who for a time were apathetic and content towards God. When God's favor towards Israel began to dwindle, the people of Israel turned their backs to God and God answered with punishment. Yet all through the book of Isaiah, the prophet remains a steadfast man of God who seeks Him and constantly praises Him in spite of what Isaiah sees and experiences. Isaiah 64:7-8 ->

" No one calls on Your name, striving to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity. Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hands."

Isaiah accepts that God can do whatever He desires because He is the one who forms us and shapes us. Even when favor dries up and I do not "experience" God in my life, He is still the One who created me, redeemed me and gave me purpose. That alone deserves my ever ready, unending trust. Even when life floats along as business as usual I should still rest in Him and call out to Him.

Job says it best when he speaks of what our pursuit of God should be:

"Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him."

Do not depend on life's circumstances to affect your faith. Trust God and rest in His character and truth.