Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
Learning to Live in Harmony
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”
Philippians 2:12
The Bible instructs us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Now, that Christ had saved us, we each one must decide how, and where, we can best live our lives for the glory of God. We are different in what we believe about many things; but remember that we are still one in the Lord.
When I was a teenager working in a Drug Store, I remember seeing a strange sight outside the window. Cars were stopped on the street because the traffic light was red. The doors of two cars opened, and the drivers got out and fought with their fist. People were yelling, and the scene was wild. Then the light turned green, they got back in the cars and drove away. The streets were quite again, and life went on.
Through years of ministry, I have seen the same thing happen over and again in churches. Some issue turns red, people stop and fight; it turns green again, and they go on with their lives (not thinking about the hurting souls they left behind).
It was John Wesley who said, “If your heart is as my heart, then give me your hand.” He knew that our heads would never be in harmony with one another; but our hearts can be when we all love Jesus.
The days that Jesus walked the earth were not all that different than they are now. His example was to be consistently faithful in the presence of all people. He wasted no time looking for the ideal situation but ministered wherever he was. As you can imagine, that got him a lot of criticism. It also brought the joy of salvation to a lot of broken people.
I cannot think of anyone in the Gospels who was changed because they were judged and denounced by religious folks; yet many were made to fall in love with the Lord because He first loved them. May we pray to be like Him!
“To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus!
My desire – to be like Him!
All through life’s journey from earth to glory,
My desire – to be like Him.”
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
Link to YouTube Video – Be Like Jesus
