5.13.20 - We Are Family
Time to test your world geography skills. I know you've got them, so don't be shaking your head like you don't know! Where is Tonga located? Any guesses? Okay, I'll tell you. It's a group of 171 islands in the South Pacific. In 2002, a church in Nuku'alofa, Tonga started constructing their first church building, and they enjoyed their first service there in 2009. So why should you care about people that you didn't even know existed until about three sentences ago? Well, my dear Yoggers, you should care because they're your family!
Read 1 Corinthians 1:2. In this letter, Paul addresses some key issues that the church at Corinth faced. One issue within their church was unity. So right out of the gate, Paul made it very clear that they served the same God and trusted in the same Jesus Christ for salvation as every other man and woman that called on Him. Though God chose to bring salvation through one nation, He is calling the whole world to Himself. The new covenant that Jesus brought made every Christ-follower a part of the same family.
Paul's message for the Corinthians church is His message to us as well. We're not only part of a local body of believers through our churches, but we're a part of the biggest family in the world. Our God is also the God of our brothers and sisters in Canada, Brazil, Uganda, China and places we may not even know about - like Tonga! We're all in the family, and we're all one in Christ. Isn't it exciting that we have such a wide variety of brothers and sisters all over the world?!
Questions for Reflection
Why is unity an important attitude for believers to have?
How does this truth change you view of God's church?
How can you be involved in supporting your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world?