God’s Messy Plan: We Need Others | Listen to Sermon Audio
Appreciating One Another’s Differences
As noted in the sermon on Ephesians 2:11-22, one of the primary ways that the transformation of the gospel is displayed in our lives is by our love for those who are different than us. Sadly, this does not often seem to be a priority when it comes to things we’re looking for in a church. One scholar notes that three motivations typically drive our church selection/participation: the desire for comfort, the desire to fix something, or the desire to be around people who are wired like us.
The willingness to do life with those who are different than us helps us to war against these three motivations. Being around people who are different than us is often uncomfortable. Trying to “fix” those who are not like us is manipulative and controlling. And only wanting to relate to people who are similar to us doesn’t produce healthy spiritual growth. Which of these three motivations is most challenging for you? Ask the Lord to deepen your appreciation for those who are different from you, recognizing that they are part of what the Lord is using to form you more and more into the image of Christ.