After reading The Message version of these verses once, I read it over and over to feel it wash over me. I began to hear a majestic choir singing in harmony, worshipping our Father Almighty! I can hear all sounds in creation rejoicing in an unimaginable anthem!
Then, as I sat here writing, I looked out my window to an illustration of these verses. There is a rainbow of flowers and plants engaging all my senses, reflecting harmony and unity as the many colors, shapes, aromas, textures, and varieties that I planted in May combine to make amazing displays! My thoughts turned to seeing this as an illustration of the beauty of ACF pursuing unity, that God will be glorified! We are a group of people with many colors of opinions, with different shapes to fill different needs, with similar aromas to work well together, an assortment of textures to complement each other, and unique varieties to reach many people! Can you see the beauty in using our differences, similarities, and gifts in unity to glorify God?
This spectacular Alaskan summer has nourished my gardens with sun and rain to grow to their full maturity and beauty. We at ACF need to model the sun by supporting and the rain by nourishing each other to become more mature Christians. God can give us just what we need each day to progress in steady growth toward maturity. Jesus’ life on Earth was the perfect model of Christian maturity, where He exemplified love, humility, faith, wisdom, forgiveness, integrity, and service to everyone! God wants to grow these traits in my life and yours. In Romans 12:14-21, Paul shares other traits of a mature Christian, like living in harmony and peace and doing what is right toward others. The remainder of Romans 15 shares more ways to grow in maturity and unity. Do you feel wrapped in warmth and support by others with God personally growing you to maturity?
These traits of maturity are not necessarily native or natural to us and need to be developed. Most of the annuals that I plant are not native to Alaska, but when I tend to them and God provides sunshine, they can grow to maturity and beauty in a non-native setting, which reminds me of a new believer in Jesus. Worshipping, praying, and seeking God’s will is not usually natural for a new believer. I also have many perennials that are native to Alaska that return each year, growing larger and spreading throughout my gardens, which reminds me of a believer growing in maturity. They have wintered the trials in life and grown to be more like Jesus. With both annuals and perennials in my gardens, I have beauty throughout the Alaskan growing season. ACF needs new and mature believers to grow together in unity and live in harmony to glorify God and restore Alaska! How can you support others in their journey toward maturity?
Now let the words “get along with each other as Jesus gets along with us all” wash over you. Jesus gets along with ALL of us! Jesus gets along with us in love, forgiveness, and humility. He teaches us to love God and others as we love ourselves. Christians getting along with others like Jesus did and does with us is a beautiful challenge. Complete harmony is His desire! ACF can spread Jesus’ model of unity and spread seeds of Jesus throughout Alaska. How can you model getting along with others like Jesus does with us?
Imagine love for Jesus growing in Alaska when harmony in our words and lives is reflected in our churches. Do you hear the anthem of God as all the Christians in Alaska spread harmony through our voices and lives as we worship God in unity?
After reading The Message version of these verses once, I read it over and over to feel it wash over me. I began to hear a majestic choir singing in harmony, worshipping our Father Almighty! I can hear all sounds in creation rejoicing in an unimaginable anthem!
Then, as I sat here writing, I looked out my window to an illustration of these verses. There is a rainbow of flowers and plants engaging all my senses, reflecting harmony and unity as the many colors, shapes, aromas, textures, and varieties that I planted in May combine to make amazing displays! My thoughts turned to seeing this as an illustration of the beauty of ACF pursuing unity, that God will be glorified! We are a group of people with many colors of opinions, with different shapes to fill different needs, with similar aromas to work well together, an assortment of textures to complement each other, and unique varieties to reach many people! Can you see the beauty in using our differences, similarities, and gifts in unity to glorify God?
This spectacular Alaskan summer has nourished my gardens with sun and rain to grow to their full maturity and beauty. We at ACF need to model the sun by supporting and the rain by nourishing each other to become more mature Christians. God can give us just what we need each day to progress in steady growth toward maturity. Jesus’ life on Earth was the perfect model of Christian maturity, where He exemplified love, humility, faith, wisdom, forgiveness, integrity, and service to everyone! God wants to grow these traits in my life and yours. In Romans 12:14-21, Paul shares other traits of a mature Christian, like living in harmony and peace and doing what is right toward others. The remainder of Romans 15 shares more ways to grow in maturity and unity. Do you feel wrapped in warmth and support by others with God personally growing you to maturity?
These traits of maturity are not necessarily native or natural to us and need to be developed. Most of the annuals that I plant are not native to Alaska, but when I tend to them and God provides sunshine, they can grow to maturity and beauty in a non-native setting, which reminds me of a new believer in Jesus. Worshipping, praying, and seeking God’s will is not usually natural for a new believer. I also have many perennials that are native to Alaska that return each year, growing larger and spreading throughout my gardens, which reminds me of a believer growing in maturity. They have wintered the trials in life and grown to be more like Jesus. With both annuals and perennials in my gardens, I have beauty throughout the Alaskan growing season. ACF needs new and mature believers to grow together in unity and live in harmony to glorify God and restore Alaska! How can you support others in their journey toward maturity?
Now let the words “get along with each other as Jesus gets along with us all” wash over you. Jesus gets along with ALL of us! Jesus gets along with us in love, forgiveness, and humility. He teaches us to love God and others as we love ourselves. Christians getting along with others like Jesus did and does with us is a beautiful challenge. Complete harmony is His desire! ACF can spread Jesus’ model of unity and spread seeds of Jesus throughout Alaska. How can you model getting along with others like Jesus does with us?
Imagine love for Jesus growing in Alaska when harmony in our words and lives is reflected in our churches. Do you hear the anthem of God as all the Christians in Alaska spread harmony through our voices and lives as we worship God in unity?
I invite you to think about the questions I presented to all of us:
Abba, we thank You for Jesus who modeled Christian maturity for us. We pray that others will know Him through the love we at ACF have for each other as we grow in unity to glorify You. We love You!
Eagle River Campus
16620 Brooks Loop
Eagle River, AK 99577
NE Anchorage Campus
Regal Tikahtnu
1102 N Muldoon Rd B
Anchorage, AK 99504
