This Month’s Theme:
Called to be One
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.
Ephesians 4:2-4
Artist’s Reflection
It’s easy to let our differences get in the way of love. We easily lose patience when we don’t understand another’s thoughts and actions. We find it difficult to bear with each other’s opposing perspectives. We resign to envy when others possess the gifts we lack.
But Paul repeatedly emphasises a glorious picture of unity that we’ve been invited to take part in. Our God gathers us, together with all our differences and brokenness, into one household. He reminds us of this higher calling: that we are parts of a whole.
We are bonded together in Jesus. In this home where He lives with us and leads us, we embrace our unique gifts, we serve and sacrifice for one another, we give and receive grace that’s undeserved, we build one another up.
And when we choose to walk in this calling for which each of us has been uniquely and wonderfully made, we experience the heights and depths of God himself.
Join in the Conversation
How can we be “one” with our church family if we don’t find anything in common with them? If we always feel slightly out of place, if the sermons and the ministry don’t resonate with us, or worse, if we have clashing personalities and opposing opinions?
What about this—we all go through the same losses and griefs in life, and yet we all share the same hope. Regardless of our race, gender, or class, we are saved by one Lord and miraculously made part of one family. We have the same Spirit within us, who enables us to minister to each other with our different gifts and experiences.
We may have different backgrounds and come from different places, but if we would listen to and share each other’s stories of how God works in our lives, how He saves and heals and provides, we will see the single, solid thread of His love running through all our lives, binding us together as one.
If you’d like to share your thoughts with us, read our writer’s guidelines and get typing! 🙂
Topics to Explore
A life worthy of our calling (ref. Eph 4:1)
Love is our highest calling, prioritising people over tasks or things, putting on humility in a me-first world, relearning patience in our instant gratification culture, seeking peace amid strong conflicting opinions, resisting isolation and affirming our need for each other
Maturing in love (ref. Eph 4:15-16)
Speaking truth in love, listening well and having hard conversations, maturing in faith (more like Christ), digging deep into God’s Word, growing in discernment, guarding each other from false teachings, praying with a biblical perspective, surrendering our baggage (fear, envy, unforgiveness), supporting our church leaders and each other, growing in our gifts
One body, one Spirit, one hope
Seeing church as people and not activity, overcoming inertia and fears to getting involved in church/people’s lives, learning our roles and exercising our gifts, setting aside differences, seeking healing, forgiveness, and accountability (justice) in the face of sin, reminding each other of our hope, fighting disillusionment and discouragement
Embracing our diversity (men, women, old, young, from all walks of life)
Recognising our different needs, applying biblical perspectives to gender roles, parenting roles, reaching out to the single and widowed, encouraging our youth through wise counsel, caring for the elderly, bridging generational gap and cultural differences
Join in the Fun
If you’re more of a visual person, you can be a part of the YMI community by contributing or tagging your artworks with our hashtag #ymitoday. Check out our creatives’ guidelines and send us your artworks.
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