Union in Christ

a verse or two

So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free people, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Spiritual Walk and Musings: Come to Me and Rest. 

The words of Jesus when he says “come to me...and I will give you rest” tie in so much with placing faith in Christ and being in union with Him. As we spend time exploring Galatians, one thing pointed out is how the purpose of the law was to show what wrong is (Gal 3:19), yet the law was also burdensome creating divisions (some people could fulfil certain parts of the law and others not and so the law separated people). Those unable to fulfil the law ended up exasperated, weighed down and disenfranchised. But union in Christ changes everything—when coming to Jesus and placing faith in him the law is dealt to. Trying to fulfil the law is no longer required and the result is there is no longer difference between anyone – all who come to him are one in union with Christ Jesus and there is rest in him. 

Have you taken on Christ’s yoke? Have you found him gentle and not harsh? If harsh maybe you have not found the real Jesus. Jesus is humble in spirit and not lofty or religious. Jesus said... 

“My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light. (Matthew 11:27 – 30)

To Pray and Ponder: UNITY 

Always pray for us to love one another and live in unity. “Christians do not have permission to discriminate against other believers. The emphasis must always be, not on unity for unity's sake, but on unity in Christ. Where Christ is not recognized as Lord, all unity will be superficial, if present at all. But remarkably divergent people who recognize in Jesus their common life will find deep unity and fellowship. 

Those who seek unity as their only goal will find their objective elusive. Those who seek others who also name Jesus as Lord will find themselves yoked with any number of unusual characters. Unity flows out of being "in Christ," not the other way around. Where do you tend to discriminate (culture, background, gender, racial issues)?”  [from LABC-Galatians]

God Bless, Jon