Sabbath 9/2/29/120
Dear Brethren,
During these days of the Omer count leading up to Pentecost, let us reflect on and give consideration to the meaning of our participation in the foot-washing service conducted during the Lord’s Supper. When we washed one another’s feet on that night, we signified and pledged our dedication and service to one another. Messiah left us an example of service and love towards the disciples that we must continue to grow in and emulate. Otherwise, we will be replaced by stones who will develop the love for each other that our Father commands of His chosen ones, until all is accomplished and He has the example and light for the world to see.
It has been said of the next seven years following the Reading of the Law in Canada that our focus must be on the Second Great Commandment of loving others to the level as we love ourselves. How is this possible and accomplished to love another as you do yourself? Yes, it is only through the spirit of the Almighty God who is the source of the love we are to have for one another, and through our obedience to His Law that this level of love could possibly be obtained. The entire basis of Christian living and Godly love must be based on God’s Law that defines and guides us in His love (see paper The Basis of Christian Living (No. 85)).
We are called by Eloah, our Father, and given to Messiah (John 6:44). Messiah reveals the Father to us (John 14:6; Mat.11:27). It is through Messiah that we comprehend the nature of the One True God, the true nature of Messiah, the Law of God, and God’s love. This is the basis of our faith and belief system that we are to continually contend for as admonished in Jude: 1-4. It is this foundation that should separate us from all other Churches of God in existence today. How we observe the weekly, monthly, and annual Sabbaths further delineates us from other COG organizations. But, this foundation must be rooted in Godly love, first towards the One True God, and then towards each other and our fellow man.
Many of us were called out of the several differing COG organizations and mainstream Christianity. We came in contact via the Internet with the Christian Churches of God. The information provided by CCG through its highly researched Bible study papers is instrumental in us coming to understand what we know today of the One True God, and the foundational truths by which we worship Him. We know who Messiah used as an instrument to bring us the Bible study papers. We know that he sacrificed much in his personal life and suffered personal attacks by individuals with an evil spirit to give us what we now know to be true. Let us never forget or forsake our brother and the pioneering members in Australia who Messiah used in bringing us to the Christian Churches of God.
It is a constant battle against spirits in high places to defend each other and the faith once delivered. We must keep our focus on where we are going in the work we have been called by our Father, Eloah, to accomplish. We will always be faced with detractors and those who will seek to separate and destroy us. The work given to the ecclesia in this age must be conducted on a worldwide basis, and not limited to just a national existence. It is through the unifying spirit of the Almighty God that His work today will be accomplished on a worldwide basis as each nation is brought in and unified into a single world conference, working together. This will be the pattern carried into the Millennium under Messiah when all nations will submit and be unified through the Spirit of God, or be punished until they do submit (Zech.14:16-19).
Unity of spirit and being of one mind is a key to the Godly love we are to have for each other. In Philippians 2:1-2 we read:
1) So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation
in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2) complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in
full accord and of one mind. (RSV)
And in 1Peter 3:8-12, we are admonished:
8. Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren,
a tender heart and a humble mind.
9. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary
bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing.
10. For He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from
evil and his lips from speaking guile;
11. Let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue
it.
12. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to
their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil. (RSV)
Our participation in the recent Lord’s Supper and Passover brought us into a unifying spirit and peace that was wonderful to experience. Let us continue to build on the bonds of love and unity like never before, always seeking to serve the One True God and each other. The next seven-year cycle is the time for us to build on the Second Great Commandment of love towards each other and our fellow man. Let us not fail. Let us in unity hold on to the faith that was once delivered and entrusted to the saints.
Tom Schardt
Assistant Coordinator California
© Copyright 2006 Christian Churches of God, All Rights Reserved
