Are You Reaching the Stature That Belongs to Christ?

JOINED TOGETHER IN  UNITY

During his life one 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, and 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 also may be in union with us, . . . in order that they may be one 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 program?  Or what if you personally are wronged by someone in the congregation?  (Note: I think they are forgetting something here.  We are all and will be imperfect until the end of this system of things and going to meetings  and worshiping God will not change that fact, we just have to do our best to more conscientious to try harder to not make the same mistakes that would displease God.  Going to meetings does not make one perfect! ) 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. 
Note: We should always forgive any wrong that others have done to us, 70 plus 7 times, or more.  It makes us the better person. And God will respect us better for it.

Consider the example of Uwe.  In the past, he tended to let the 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 of 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 needed to cultivate.  What I learned through my study changed my view of the imperfection 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 jw.org publications