The Picture of Unity
By Dena J. Dyer

"This is what the body of Christ should look like. No matter your age, race, gender or social status-when you accept Christ, you become 'blood' brothers and sisters with everyone else in the Kingdom."

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit..." (I Corinthians 12:13).

At the music theater where I perform on weekends, we end each concert with a gospel/patriotic section. During our rendition of Lee Greenwood's "Proud to Be an American," we ask the veterans to stand. It's always enlightening, and sometimes touching, to see just how many men and women have served our country in the armed forces.

One night, when Russ, our lead singer, asked the veterans to stand, I watched an elderly man struggle to his feet. Beside him, a young African-American woman stood. They smiled at their spouses and then turned around.

And I had the delightful experience of seeing the expressions on their faces when the two, very different individuals saw that their "next-seat neighbor" was a vet, too. They both cried out in joy, immediately hugging each other like they were best friends.

The sight brought tears to my eyes, and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: "Dena, get a good look. This is what the body of Christ should look like. No matter your age, race, gender or social status-when you accept Christ, you become 'blood' brothers and sisters with everyone else in the Kingdom."

We Christians are in a constant battle with the forces of evil in this world. May we daily remember that no matter how different our fighting comrades may be, we have all been bought with Jesus' blood, and He sees us all the same.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving my life with your sacrifice on the cross. Help me to see my brothers and sisters in Christ the way you see them.

cbn