ICS Daily Devotions
All Hands on Deck!
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Philippians 2:19-20 (NKJV) But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
Amos 3:3 (NKJV) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Whilst strife, division, and envy happen naturally in the corporate world amongst people who do not operate under God’s law, and even amongst carnal Christians, it should not be allowed to happen in the church. We should be a people who represent Christ well, just as Timothy represented Paul well.
It takes much effort and repeated dying to self to choose to be aligned with the church. It is an intentional act to prioritise this unity over individualism or selfish ambition so as to achieve peace, unity, and like-mindedness.
God’s glory is marred when there is disunity and division. We have to be careful not to fall into the same trap laid by the devil in the church of Corinth to divide and conquer. It is best to concentrate on the commonalities than the differences.
An international church mostly attended by expatriates is by nature transient and diversified. Believers from different denominations are placed under the same roof and dissimilarities are bound to, well, abound.
However, we are under the same rule, joined by a stronger bond in Christ, united in worship towards the same God, and unified by the same Great Commission to preach the gospel. We must think of Jesus Christ and the lost out there in the world. Surely, God has placed us where we are to minister to them. Surely, it is imperative to focus instead on building a vibrant, effective, and outward-focused church that desires to fulfil the work of the ministry entrusted to us by the Lord.
There is much to do, many more people to reach as we are representatives of Christ to the world. But there is great strength in unity. Together, with all hands on deck, we can do it!
Sermon Series: We Can Do It!
