Thursday, 8 October 2020

What it means to have one Father

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Question of the day: Malachi 2:10a "Do we not all have one Father?"

Answer: Actually, yes, we do all have one Father. The point in the rest of the verse is that, since we all have one Father, then we are a band of brothers. I use the term, "Play nice in the sandbox." God loves it when His children are nice to each other.

Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good toward all - especially those who belong to the household of faith."

We might feel good about ourselves in this regard. After all, you and I love everybody, right? Okay, let's put that to the test. Who would be on the list of people we would not like to sit with over a cup of coffee?

Our history is not good. There are many Christian denominations, and the number is growing. The best number I found is around 200 major denominations. There are many estimates in the 30-50k range, but that's ridiculous. Some congregations are a denomination unto themselves. For that matter, some individuals are a denomination (or want to be).

I keep coming back to the idea that we are all ambassadors for Messiah in every situation of life. 2 Corinthians 5:20 "We are therefore ambassadors for Messiah, as though God were making His appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Messiah, be reconciled to God."

Still, there is that commandment to love one another. 1 John 4:20-21 "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: that the one who loves God should also love his brother." Go figure. Pray about it. What is the Lord saying?