Day 21: Connected
Welcome to the final day of Withhold to Behold 2023. I’m proud of you and I honor your hunger for the Presence of God. I pray you recognized God and His voice in a fresh way that stirred you to draw closer to Him.
We are looking forward to celebrating who God is and what He has done over the fast at our Encounter gathering tonight (1/29) at 5p. It will be an extended time of corporate worship, prayer, and community as we break the fast together.
Unity is one of our desires as we partake in Withhold to Behold each year. We long to see the Church of the Tri-Cities unified across denominations, races, socio-economics, and any other man-made barriers. We desire to see one another as God does. We see separation yet God offers connection. We see division yet God has made us one through Christ (Ephesians 2:14).
May we be reminded that we are deeply connected to all humanity. Paul describes the Church as one body with many members. Each person is deeply connected. What happens to one, affects the whole. Read 1 Corinthians 12:26:
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
We are connected with all of humanity as creations of God that bear His image. Just as a man cares for not only his hands but also his face and every other part of his body, may we value and care for others as we do for ourselves. In doing so, we will live out the two commandments Jesus gave us that satisfy all others – love God (often by loving others) and love your neighbor as yourself. The Enemy came to separate yet God sent Jesus to restore unity with God and throughout the entirety of His creation.
Scripture Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 & Ephesians 2:11-22
Prayer Prompts:
- Take a moment to thank God for the union He has given us through Jesus. In Christ, there is no longer any separation other than the lies we believe. Remind your soul that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection cover all of your failures, your sins (ways we separate from God’s truth), and/or any other accusation or deception that would lead us to believe otherwise.
- Pray over the Church of the Tri-Cities. Pray by name over a church other than your home church. Confess to God your desire to see unity in the family of God as it is in heaven.
