All for One

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

– 1 Corinthians 12:13

When it comes to relationships, do you believe that opposites attract? Or is it more your experience that birds of a feather flock together?

For those in a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, the answer really is both. One of the most reassuring truths of the Bible is that God wants to be in a personal, loving relationship with you regardless of your race, gender or nationality. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’ve been or what you’ve done. Everyone is welcome to accept God’s free gift of forgiveness and live a new changed life as a Christ-follower. Our past failures no longer matter and can be forgotten. We can all be born again.

So opposites do attract in this spiritual relationship. And you can see it for yourself at church. At any given Sunday service, you worship with people of different ages, political viewpoints and nationalities. Some love the Hokies while others root for the Wahoos or the Dukes. It’s diversity personified!

Yet for all their differences, Christ-followers around the world share at least one thing that unifies them — and sets them apart from everyone else on Earth. It’s their common, fervent belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And it’s this same common faith that helps us share in the joys and overcome the different struggles, disappointments and even tragedies that we all face along our unique faith-journeys.

As a diverse group of Christ-followers sharing in a single, incredible relationship, we’re by definition all for One. But that’s not enough. What’s much more important is that we know there’s One who’s for us all.