Today’s reading is Colossians 1.
The last few weeks has been tough for most in our country. We’ve seen multiple school shootings yet again, an innocent Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska who was trying to escape war in the US stabbed and killed, more shootings in the inner cities that happen so frequently the individual names (only numbers usually and unfortunately) make the national news, and of course the murder of Charlie Kirk.
These events have caused heavy hearts and some unity, but yet still more division too with some judging others about how they should be just as, or more upset, about X event as Y event.
If you are reading this as a Christ follower…please pray that we stop this. ALL these heinous events are terrible and evil coming from Satan. We must stop judging other Christians and calling them hypocrites because they do more or post more or call to action for change on one topic, but don’t on another you are passionate about. This is EXACTLY what Satan wants. He wants to break the church and God’s people from within through division.
Maybe this is a poor analogy, but it’s one that just came to mind to me. Many of us have organizations/charities that we give to or volunteer with. There are certain things that tug on your heart that you feel called to give or help with. Do we judge other Christians because they give or volunteer with one cause which is still good, but not the one that you feel passionate about that is also good? I hope not.
I realize there are also more complex topics that one Christian would call an atrocity and the other might think it is actually good. My one prayer is that we discuss these topics with other Christ followers… and not just lash out on social media calling the other hypocrites. That will not solve anything. I’m not saying be silent… I’m saying let’s seek to understand in a one on one or a different setting. There’s probably some good and some wrong in your thinking and probably some good and some wrong in the other’s thinking. But having a real talk and conversations about these topics and finding commonality in Jesus and His love is where we come together and create unity in Him instead of more division like Satan wants.
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Colossians 1:15-20
If we look at those who cheered the death of Charlie Kirk who are very far from Jesus all the way to those who mourned deeply over his death to those who believe his killing was wrong, but yet vehemently disagreed with his position on many topics… the only way we find hope and healing and unity is through Jesus.
We are ALL sinners separated from God because of our sin in need of a Savior. Verse 20 tells us through Him we can find reconciliation and unity. It tells us His blood is the only thing that can bring us peace and save us from our sin.
He is the only way we all find hope and healing in our individual hearts and together despite our differences.
This song by Crowder and the title of this post He Is has been what I have felt God laying on my heart this week.
My prayer is that it will impact others and again that we can find hope and healing in Him together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9s7GogPKCg&list=RDy9s7GogPKCg&start_radio=1
