The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
God calls us to unity in our diversity. In fact, God so loves diversity, each individual receives a unique blend of preferences and passions. Together in Christ, living our unique designs, we radiate His glory. Apart we are pale, frail, anemic…and vulnerable to falling in with the devil. May the Holy Spirit enlighten the eyes of our heart that we never leave that as our testimony! Instead may we do as scripture instructs us: ‘Look at each other, be provoked to love and do well!’ Hebrews 10:24-45
As much as God wants us to be excited about the passions He built into us, Satan wants to us prefer our passions and demand honor for ourselves. Sadly, we often play into the Accusers hands and become provoked to attack, not love, the preferences and passions of others. Whether the roots of our attacks are pride, fearful self-defense or even ‘protection’ of God, our attacks open the gate for the devil’s design of divide and conquer.
Our attacks, our accusations of others, make us soldiers of the enemy. We fulfill a different scripture; we do as Paul warns in Galatians 5:15 and 16. We bite and devour one another instead of walking in the Spirit of our Lord who abhors the works of the devil. In fact, Jesus left the glories of heaven to endure the Cross-, that He would annihilate those works!
Listen to the heart of Jesus as He speaks from the cross. Every one of the seven statements—uttered in the depths of excruciating pain—reflects a passion for fellowship and unity.
“Forgive them; be with me in paradise; Care for each other; Where are you Father; I finished—we can all fellowship; Receive me.”
Do you hear His heart? Jesus saw the wrongs of every person. In fact, He bore the wrath of God for those sins, and yet His heart cried for fellowship. Were there wrongs around Him: absolutely! Are there wrongs around us: absolutely! Christ focused, though, on living—and dying—for His passion of Oneness with the Father.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK92TZrE-SA
When we live with passion for our design and the design of others, we need not fear becoming milque-toast followers accepting everything. Refusing to attack is not the acceptance of error. The Truth God gives, we are to live out with awe of His goodness and grace. Allowing the Holy Spirit reign in our lives brings others into contact with Him who alone is able to penetrate the heart of another and bring true conviction.
Great insight about there being seven statements of passion by Jesus on the cross. 🙂
The word “excruciating” means “of the cross,” a term reserved for the level of pain Jesus endured out of his passion for us.
Well thanks for reading the other one :). Yes, I’ve been deep in those words and it is heart-piercing. Very cool word meaning; I didn’t know that but it makes perfect sense. My heart truly aches for the Body’s tendency to critique instead of build.