Reflection question:
-I was very struck by verse 39 which states, "I will give them one heart and one way." It reminds me a lot of a lesson we had on Sunday from Philippians in which Paul invites the people to be, "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." Why do you think unity is so important?
I like verse 39 and also verses 40-41. "I will never stop doing good to them, ....I will rejoice in doing them good and will plant them in this land with all my heart and soul." God is reaching out to the people. He is going to be with them even in exile. God reaches out to me too. This has been a difficult week with friends loosing their child. I like to picture God reaching out to them and holding them in his arms to give them comfort.
ReplyDeleteI think unity, or as my bible refers to singleness of mind, is important because it keeps our focus on God. Otherwise we have our own agendas and those agendas can become paramount and God becomes secondary, It is sometimes these petty issues that divide a church. So unity in the essentials, diversity in the non essentials make for a healthy church. We can agree to disagree as long as scripture is not violated or compromised. God's word reigns supreme and that is where we need to be unified in what he commands.
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