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Standing Together as ONE!
September 16, 2009
God's perfect light has dawned in your heart through Jesus Christ.
A few months ago my youngest daughter (Sarah) and I were in Ireland. We took a walking tour in a small village near Galway. The tour began on the guide's family farm that had provided a living to his ancestry for many, many generations. (This depth of time is rare in the US but common in Europe.)
The sites were magnificent. As we ascended up a fairly steep hill, our guide began to unfold the history of Ireland - it turns out he is an Irish historian. Once upon the crest of the hill, he pointed out stone markers set up by the British soldiers from two century's past. He talked much about the strength and courage of the Irish people in light of their rule by England, which according to him is still a bit of a sore spot.
I inquired, "If the Irish people are so proud, strong and brave, how did they allow England to win the Irish Kingdom?"
He replied, "Ireland was made up of about 150 clans (families), each family had a head of the clan. Each head of a clan thought himself to be the King of Ireland. So you had about 150 small kingdoms concerned about their own affairs and not looking at the whole."
My mind went immediately to the Scriptures. God's desire is for ALL Christians to be of ONE mind; to work together as ONE body (Ephesians 4:1-6).
Ephesians 4:1-6 KJV
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Ephesians 4:1-6 Literal according to usage
Therefore, I a sold-out prisoner in the lord and for the lord, lovingly exhort you to walk and live in such a manner that your life-style and your calling are counterbalanced as the standard required of all called saints,
which is in all humility of mind, serving God and one another in meekness with great patience, holding up and sustaining one another in the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation
and diligently and watchfully endeavouring to safeguard the unity of the spirit, staying spiritually
unified, being bound together by the bond which is peace.
For you are in the same Body of the Church because of the new birth, even as you are called in one Hope because of your being called of God.
with one lord, Jesus Christ; one faith, that of Jesus Christ; one spiritual baptism, with God in Christ in you;
one God, the Father of Jesus Christ and all believers. Who is above all, and yet in and throughout the body of every believer in the Body, in us all.
In October several members of the LTA Board of Directors and friends are going to Belize. This is the first of many trips to be undertaken. Please pray for their travel. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Thank you for standing upon God's word,
Anthony Gilmore
2 Tim. 2:2
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