You Belong!
I believe there are two phrases that have no place in our hearts: “I don’t belong,” and “I don’t need you.”
This is my plea to you . . .
Women of The Alliance, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if you have any comfort from His love, if you have any tenderness and compassion given by the indwelling presence of the Spirit, I ask you to listen to my plea . . .
Make my joy complete by having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. May we do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (adapted from Phil. 2).
May no woman think her ministry involvements are more commendable than another’s. Rather, in humility, may we value others above ourselves. May we celebrate the diversity of our passions and the ministries being faithfully carried out by women in our Alliance family. May we no longer look exclusively to our own interests, but each one of us to the interests of others.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work (adapted from 1 Cor. 12).
God has placed each one of us and gifted each one of us.
None of us can say, “I do not belong.” None of us can say, “I don’t need you.”
We are the Body of Christ. God has put us together.
So, there should be no division, no competing, no comparing.
Instead, may we be transformed from competitive individuals into one Body, receiving from Jesus compassionate hearts and—above all—love.
Therefore, let’s continue to work this out with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God who works in each one of us—giving us both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Let’s be on mission.
Together.
Amen.
