Are You Reaching the Stature That Belongs to Christ?

JOINED TOGETHER IN UNITY

During his life on earth as a perfect man, Jesus was surrounded by imperfect humans.  He was raised by imperfect parents, and he spent years at home with imperfect relatives. Even his closest followers were influenced by the  ambitious, manipulative spirit common around them.  For example, on the evening before Jesus was executed, there "arose a heated dispute among them over which one of them was considered to be the greatest."  (Luke 22:24) But Jesus was confident that his imperfect followers  could grow spiritually and form a united congregation. That same evening, Jesus prayed for the loving unity of his apostles, asking his heavenly Father:  "May [they] all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they may also be in union with us, . . .in order that they may be just as we are one." -John 17:21, 22. 

A mature servant of Jehovah promotes unity within the congregation.  (Read Ephesians 4:1-6, 15, 16) It is our goal that God's people be "harmoniously joined together" and that all members cooperate with one another.  According to Jehovah's Word, to achieve this unity, we need humility. A mature brother or sister has the humility to work for unity, even when facing  the imperfections of others.  How do you react when confronted with the imperfection of a brother or sister in the congregation?  Is it your inclination, or even your pattern, to build a wall, so to speak, that separates you from the offender?  Or do you try to construct a bridge across the gap between the two of you?  A mature Christian wants to -yes, strives to-build bridges, not walls.

Consider the example of Uwe.  In the past, he tended to let imperfections of fellow believers  upset him.  Then he decided to use the Bible and Insight on the Scriptures to study the life of David.  Why David?  Uwe explains:  "David witnessed the unscriptural behavior  of some fellow believers.  For example, King Saul tried to kill him, some o the people wanted to stone him, and even David's own wife mocked him. (1 Samuel 19:9-11; 30:1-6; 2 Samuel 6:14-22) But David never allowed the conduct of others to dampen his love for Jehovah. Also, David had a merciful heart, something I need to cultivate. What I learned through my study changed my view of the imperfections of fellow believers.  I no longer keep a chronicle of mistakes.  Rather, I strive to contribute to the unity of the congregation."  Do you likewise have the goal of promoting unity in  the congregation? 

Next time: Are You Reaching the Stature That Belongs to Christ? - FRIENDS AMONG THOSE DOING GOD'S WILL

From the Awake! magazine