With
One Voice
Love is…
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
With the pastor out of town, Jake, a
local High School music teacher, was speaking this morning. “I want
to bring a message today about speaking with ‘One Voice’. ‘One’
voice refers to the distinct harmony created by a barbershop quartet.
As each voice, lifted in its unique pitch and quality is blended,
they create something unattainable as individual vocalists.”
Jeff, also a layman in the
congregation, listened intently, “Just as multiple singers can
become more than their individual selves, the Church is meant to
produce spiritual singularity, showing Jesus to the world in love.
The day before He was crucified, Jesus told His Disciples the world
would know Who’s they were if they loved, cherished, and cared for
one another...”
Jake challenged the Church to seek
God’s understanding of 1Corinthians 12:12, and 13:4-8, and finished
with, “When we put others ahead of ourselves in love something
happens. Our voice shifts from one of self-purpose and becomes part
of a Spiritual symphony. When we, as Christians, live together in
love our voices become the harmony that creates the ‘One Voice’.”
Jeff accepted Jake’s challenge,
silently praying, This is how I want the voice of my life to
sound, Lord Jesus, to merge with the other voices of Your Body.
Help me love in such a way.
†
In 1Corinthians 12, Paul explains how
the Church is made up of individual parts that work together for the
good of the Body. In chapter 13, he exhorts the Church to turn away
from jealousy and enmity, so the unity described in chapter 12 is
made possible.
Sadly, there is a lack of
trans-denominational cooperation and mutual edification within the
Body.
The world is disillusioned with the
disharmonious noise of today’s Christianity, they have no desire to
become engaged when they listen to selfish nature where unity and
fellowship should be. In short, they see hypocrisy, they hear an
out-of-harmony Church.
Only by joining together in the unity
of selfless love will our individual voices become transformed into
something the world hears, that One Voice, and wishes to become part
of.
Prayer
“Father God, forgive my
selfish desire to have my way. Teach me to love with ‘One Voice’
so the sound of my life is pleasing to You, and inviting to the
world. Amen.”
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