Pastor Larry
John 13:12-15, 34-35
“When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Even in that small group of disciples there were men that normally would not associate with one another. They were from different backgrounds- education, vocations, politics- they were just different from one another. But He was asking them to set the pace, be the examples- to learn it, put it into practice and teach it to others. To really love one another. And it would be a sign to the world that something very different was happening here!
Today, in my reading plan we looked at Acts 6. This is an interesting episode in the early days of the church. Starting a church with new believers of Jewish background (but from so many different countries and cultures) was going to be a challenge! The ones from Greek backgrounds thought they were being overlooked in the daily provision, or was it perhaps that the traditional Jews were getting preference!
“Looks like y’all have been taking care of yer older folks pretty well and somehow, our widows are hard for y’all to see. That ain’t right!”
And tensions probably began to rise. It didn’t seem fair. They were assuming motives, like it was happening on purpose. Something had to be done to fix this if these believers from so many different backgrounds were going to be able to stay together as one church.
On that day of Pentecost, when Jews from all over the known world gathered together in Jerusalem for one common celebration, they came from different cultures and languages and traditions. Sure, they were all Jews but they were all so different! Then something happened! They got saved and the Spirit of God began to work in them! They became one very large, diverse, and potentially very dysfunctional extended family! (Just wait until God begins to draw in Gentiles from all kinds of VERY different backgrounds!) How were they going to live and function together? Whose culture and traditions would reign supreme?
So the leaders of the church had to do something, they couldn’t ignore this distribution problem, hoping it would fade away. They couldn’t just say ‘you’re being too sensitive, get over it, that’s not what they meant.’ It had to be addressed so that they could keep Jesus’ command to serve one another and love each other- the world was watching!
They decide to give these distribution responsibilities to godly men in the group and then the apostles would be able to focus on ‘the ministry of the word of God!’ They didn’t treat these deacon responsibilities lightly. The ‘deacons’ they chose were full of the Spirit, with power and grace! They got to work, distributed what was needed to take care of the body and it appears that the problem was solved! Everyone was recognized, needs were met and relationships were repaired.
Everyone could get on with the main purpose of their mission as a church. “So the word of God spread, more and more believers were added to their number and even many priests believed!’ But in order for the world to listen to their message, they had to be living as His disciples, loving one another as He loved them!
At the same time, there was also a divisive attack coming from outside the church, from the world. The Jews who didn’t believe continued to complain as well, with false charges brought against Stephen and eventually to many, many others. As the church stood united in love for one another, focused on Jesus and full of God’s Spirit, the world hated them the same way they hated Jesus. It’s always been that way. Jesus told us in advance. But that division can’t come from inside the church against one another.
Today, in our country we see division and preference among people from so many different backgrounds and we, as a country and as a community, must work to insure justice and equality for all.
But the challenge is the same in the church. Believers are coming from so many nations, cultures, traditions, ways of life; groups that typically would not be playing well together are now taking communion together. Instead of starting lots of different fellowships based on our unique differences of education, color, country of origin, politics, God calls us around His throne to be one people from every nation, tribe, language and people group. He calls us to love and accept and respect and care for one another in a very unique ‘unity’ that the world doesn’t often see!
The way He loves us, extravagantly and unconditionally, is the way He calls us to love one another! This unity, that overcomes our differences and loves one another completely, is the one way, the main way, the big thing, the way that the world will know that we are His disciples! We, as believers, must lead the way, be the examples, be the proof that He is truly the answer for the condition of the world.
This unity is first taught and lived out in our homes, then instructed and put into practice in our church and ultimately demonstrated and declared to the world.
“Love one another as I have loved you!”
Pastor Larry
Canyon Hills Community Church