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Verse:Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk. —1 Timothy 1:5, 6
A wise pastor once gave me a powerful lesson in church unity in just six words. “What I have found in my ministry,” he said to me, “is that a pulling horse does not kick.” If the old saying is true and idle hands are indeed the devil’s workshop, one can only imagine the potential trouble that exists in a congregation that is not active in mission and ministry. Little wonder that entire churches get bogged down in matters of little importance when church members are not engaged in service and the church does not have a clearly defined outreach plan.
The person who is opening up the Bible with those who are searching for meaning and truth or is otherwise sharing the love of Jesus with others has neither the time nor the inclination to engage in petty politics or inconsequential church squabbles. One who prays for the opportunity and ability to share Jesus with the lost will have patience with young people and compassion toward the erring.
If half of the people who attended any one church were receiving a daily baptism of the Holy Spirit, that same Spirit would develop in them grace and forbearance that would enable them to turn the other cheek and work for solutions rather than perpetuate problems. One can only imagine what would happen if the entire church was praying that prayer! When Jesus commissioned His disciples to go and “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19), He undoubtedly intended that a believer would start nearest where they were. Our families, our communities, and our places of education or work are all venues where followers of Jesus are able to let their light shine for the glory of God. As we take personal ministry seriously, the important things —church growth, soul winning, evangelism, and mission— take the primary place in our lives, while less important things —the color of the carpet in church, who gets to be a deacon or an elder— are treated with appropriate emphasis. When mission is our focus, church members unite on what is truly important in God’s eyes. The horse pulls and doesn’t kick.