DIG for Monday the 2nd of January…..so many differences but so much in common…..Galatians 3 v 28

It is coming near to us leaving India and at times it has been confusing and surprising due to the many differences we have with the Indian people.

However we also have much in common.

A couple of nights ago we went for a short walk along the banks of the Krishna River where I looked up to the stars and for a few seconds it surprised me that I recognised all the constellations.

Of course we would see the same stars as we see in Scotland as India is also in the northern hemisphere, but in the midst of nearly everything being different this was quite comforting.

But we also share much more in common with our brothers and sisters than the stars we can see.

We worship the same Lord, have relationship with the same Jesus and have the same indwelling Holy Spirit within us.

We all have the same power in our tongues to speak out creative words over our lives, families and communities.

We have all already been blessed with all spiritual blessings through the finished work of Jesus (Ephesians 1 v 3).

In the most important things we are all exactly the same (Galatians 3 v 28).

We many eat different foods, wear different clothes and speak different languages but at a spiritual level we are identical.

We are all children of the Living God having been adopted into His family as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 1 v 4).

What we have the same brings us closer as brothers and sisters in Christ than the differences that could drive us apart as people.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I am one of your children, adopted into your family as a gift of grace through faith in Jesus”.

Galatians 3 v 28…..There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus

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DIG for Saturday the 23rd of July…..no room for differences of race, class or gender…..Galatians 3 v 28

Everywhere we look today there are issues and problems revolving around three differences in people; we see issues with race, with class and with gender.

These are the three differences that Paul said should be irrelevant in the church, when he wrote his epistle to the people of Galatia.

He said there is neither Jew nor Greek; this is talking about race, about where we are from, about the colour of our skin.

He said there is neither bond nor free; this is talking about class, about where we live and work, about what we do for a living, about how much money we have.

He said there is neither male nor female; this is talking about our gender.

In Jesus we are all the same, we are human beings, we are believers, we are adopted sons of the Living God and there are no differences now in the Lord.

Yes, we may have different strengths and weaknesses, but these should bring us together rather than push us apart.

We do indeed have different roles and different tasks; these are the individual plans and purposes the Lord has for us and has nothing to do with our race, class or gender.

We are all of Abraham’s seed and are all heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3 v 29).

We are all in Christ and that is what is important now.

The fact that I am a white, working /middle class man has nothing to do with my role in the Kingdom; it is far more important that I am an adopted son of the Living God.

It is important that I see myself as this now.

So how do you see yourself; are you still looking at yourself with regards to the differences Paul says is now irrelevant?

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I am now your adopted son”.

Galatians 3 v 28…..There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus

DIG for Wednesday the 15th of July…..male or female, no difference in the Kingdom…..Galatians 3 v 28

Now, before anyone starts I do know that there are differences between men and women.

Men are better at some things and women hold their own better in other areas.

But in the Kingdom we are all the same.

In church last weekend I appointed a lady onto my team of elders, and one person asked the question, “is there a Biblical precedent for female elders?”

Now he did this with all sincerity as he had heard in a previous church that female elders were not allowed.

That was a great question and a good one, as there are examples of this in the Word.

Priscilla was a leader of a house church along with her husband (Romans 16 v 3 to 5).

Phebe was a servant of the church (leader) in Cenchrea (Romans 16 v 1).

Euodias and Syntyche were evangelists and an evangelist is one of the “classes’ of leadership designed by the Lord to lead His church (Philippians 4 v 2).

Male or female, there is no difference in the Kingdom (Galatians 3 v 28).

Having men solely as leaders is a hangover from the traditions of the church laid down over the centuries and is not Biblical.

It weakens the church and should be discouraged.

Women have a different skillset than men and we need both in leadership positions within the church, to provide us with the strongest leadership possible.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a much better qualification than gender!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that men and women are of equal value in your eyes and in the Kingdom”.

Galatians 3 v 28…..There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus

DIG for Thursday the 27th of March……gender equality in the church; oh yes…..Galatians 3 v 28

I was sent an interesting link yesterday from a friend who does not share the same beliefs as we do.

It was a video clip of a pastor teaching that women should not speak in church, especially when the pastor was preaching; she should not even say “amen” in agreement and there was absolutely no way that she should teach.

Now I have to say that I agree with her sentiments; that this pastor must be in error.

We see a number of women being mentioned in the Word as being involved in ministry.

Paul (the man that many people think hated women) mentions many women in his epistles.

Priscilla is a prime example; we see her in ministry with her husband and we see her teaching Apollos (Acts 18 v 25 and 26)

In the eyes of the Lord I do not believe that there is any difference between a Christian man and a Christian woman (and also between people of different race and class) (Galatians 3 v 28).

If we are born again we are righteous, holy and perfect in our spirit (the part that The Lord looks at); in fact in this part of our “being” we are all like Jesus.

We are all the same!

Yes, we may have different roles and gifts, however we are all the same in the eyes of the Lord and there should be no inequality in the body of Christ for gender (race or class).

Don’t let inequality in to your fellowship.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that in your eyes we are all the same; all righteous, holy and perfect, just like Jesus”.

Galatians 3 v 28…..There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male or female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus

DIG for Wednesday the 3rd of April…..there are no super-dupers in the Kingdom of God…..Galatians 3 v 28

I love how inclusive the Lord is; He offers salvation to everyone (2 Peter 3 v 9) because He loves the whole world and everybody in it (John 3 v 16).

The Lord does not have any favourites amongst His children; the Word says He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10 v 34).

This truth of universal love and inclusiveness is further explained to the people of Galatia by the apostle Paul.

Paul writes that we are all one, we are all the same. In the Kingdom, as well as Galatia, there should be no issues of race, class and gender.

Paul says that it does not matter if you are a Greek or Jew (race), slave or free (class), male or female (gender); everybody is one in Christ Jesus.

If you are a born again believer you are the same as any other born again believer no matter what your physical circumstances may be.

This is a wonderful picture of inclusiveness and a wonderful example of what life should be like in church today.

We could extend this model even further in our culture; married, single or divorced; straight, gay or celibate; rich or poor; black or white; able bodied or disabled; we are all one in Christ Jesus.

In the eyes of the Lord we are all the same; we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Do we see this attitude in the church today is the question I leave you with.

Speak this out today……”Thank you Lord that I am included in the love and mercy of Jesus Christ; thank you that I am one in Him”.

Galatians 3 v 28….There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus