Yesterday I wrote about the diversity we had amongst the group of ladies and how amazing it was to see all that diversity come together in love for each other because of their love for Christ. It was just beautiful!
But diversity doesn't always look so beautiful. In fact, diversity can divide like oil mixed in water and result in broken relationships (or non-existent relationships), hurt feelings, wrong assumptions, bitterness, and serious disunity amongst the very people who are supposed to make up one body...the body of Christ. And it can happen even after a wonderful weekend like we all just had!
The church of Corinth was struggling with division due to diversity (and division due to blatant sin, too)....eating or not eating food offered to idols, remaining single or getting married, looking up to one leader over another, spiritual gifts, etc...and it was causing massive problems. Everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes without giving consideration to those around them...they were not having "the same care for one another"(I Cor. 12:25) and seeking the "good of his neighbor" (I Cor. 10:24) because they were not living "for the sake of the gospel" (I Cor. 9:23)and the "glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).
Those divisions due to (non-sinful) diversity can creep up in our lives, relationships, and churches, too. Breastfed vs. bottlefed, schedule vs. demand fed, skirts vs. pants, King James Version vs. New American Standard, glass of wine vs. abstaining, home school vs. sending kids to school, public school vs. private school, choruses vs. hymns, TV vs. no TV, and I could go on and on! Though none of these decisions are sinful in and of themselves, in each of these decisions lies the potential for sin to occur regardless of what "side" we fall on. Because, ultimately, the Lord is concerned with the HEART! He is concerned with WHY we do what we do. He is concerned about WHERE our eyes are fixed. He is concerned that we make it our AIM to glorify Him (I Cor. 10:31) and adorn the gospel (Titus 2) in everything we do. He is concerned that, as we seek to follow His will for our lives and the lives of our families, we have NO DOUBT..."for the one who doubts is like a wave tossed by the wind...for that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8)
There is sweet freedom in our (non-sinful) choices as long as our pursuit is to hold high the Word of Truth and display the glories of Christ as women! Each of us must "set the Lord before us", "walk wisely" and "make the best use of our time". We must all "examine our hearts" and "take our thoughts captive to obey Christ". We must "delight in God's statutes", "meditate on His precepts and fix our eyes on His ways" as we "ponder" and "examine" our own ways.
And, then, we must stand confidently on the path we believe the Lord is calling us to walk without doubting..."for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught"(Proverbs 3:26)
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." Hebrews 10:35-36
But PLEASE note that being confident does not equal being right and all others being wrong. It just means that you have the joy and peace of knowing you are following what you believe to be God's best for YOUR family!
Diversity does not have to lead to disunity. Diversity can be an absolutely beautiful thing when it is held together by threads of love....a love that is patient and kind, not envying, boasting, arrogant or rude. A love that does not insist on it's own way and is not irritable or resentful. A love that does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. A love that bears with, believes, hopes, and endures all things. A love that never fails because it comes from the One who will never fail!
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING!!!!
After writing the above, I listened to a 25 minute "message" about "true womanhood" which pieced together last week's "True Woman Conference" a ministry of "Revive Our Hearts". It was so AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL and ENCOURAGING and so much at the heart of all that I just wrote above!!! I know I can't make you listen :)...but, if I could, I would hand deliver this to all of you, make up a couple of Starbucks Via Ready Brews, and listen with you! Yep...it's that great...and it whets your appetite for more of the conference which can be listened to online!!! Click HERE to get to the page and then click on the LISTEN tab and you'll have your options of how to hear this great message. I downloaded it to my Itouch and jumped on my treadmill...I was so excited listening that I walked faster than I ever have before!:) Really!:)
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