I IN THEM AND YOU IN ME. MAY THEY BE BROUGHT TO COMPLETE UNITY TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT YOU SENT ME AND HAVE LOVED THEM EVEN AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME (JOHN 17:23).
MAY THE GOD WHO GIVES ENDURANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT GIVE YOU A SPIRIT OF UNITY AMONG YOURSELVES AS YOU FOLLOW CHRIST JESUS (ROMANS 15:5).
MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH THE BOND OF PEACE (EPHESIANS 4:3).
TODAY’S DEVOTION
Chinatown is a community. Its inhabitants are united by the common bond of their Chinese heritage and culture, which they keep vibrantly alive. Chinatown could never exist with only one or two or even a handful of Chinese. Maintaining a distinct cultural identity requires a large number of people of similar background working together in common purpose. In Los Angeles, the population of Chinatown is around 500,000 people. They speak their own language, worship in their own temples, operate their own businesses, and maintain their own distinctive cuisine. Theirs is a distinct and unmistakably unique community, a “garden” of China within the United States.
Kingdom communities, wherever they are in the world, should be just as unique and distinctive. Our values, standards, beliefs, norms, language, customs, traditions, and ideals should set us apart from the rest of the world. People who walk into our community should feel like they have stepped into Heaven.
(God’s Big Idea, Chapter Eight)
CONSIDERATIONS
1. Why is it impossible for “religious” Christianity to take the place of the Kingdom?
2. Religious Christianity looks nothing like Heaven. Why?
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is bigger than our_____________and broader than our______________. Explain.
4. Can you envision a community on Earth where they forgive one another, love their enemies, do good to those who mistreat them, never engage in slander or gossip, are honest, and respect the dignity of others? Why or why not?
5. What must happen first before a fallen humankind can assume a common ideology, or philosophy, with the King of kings?
MEDITATION
Can you see Heaven’s culture coming to Earth? Can you imagine a community where every husband loves his wife the way Christ loves His Church, and treats her like the queen she is? Can you imagine a community where every wife honors, respects, and builds up her husband? Can you imagine a community where husbands and wives are absolutely faithful to each other and where adultery or sweethearting is inconceivable? Can you imagine a community where all the children honor and obey their parents and show respect to all legitimate authority? Can you imagine a community where people’s word is their bond and where honesty is the common currency? Can you imagine a community where there is no cursing or gambling, no greed or thievery, no envy or jealousy, no backbiting or backstabbing, no petty bickering or quarreling, and no lust or sexual immorality? Can you imagine a community where there is no poverty or want, but abundant peace and contentment? Can you imagine it? God can, and this is the type of community He wants to fill the Earth with.
(God’s Big Idea, Chapter Eight)
Take a few minutes to close your eyes and imagine living in a community where God’s love permeates all.