The theme of this year’s Passover Conference is “Unity” among the diverse group of believers. We may be geographically separated but we are of one Spirit:
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
Each of us has a unique purpose within the Body. That reality creates a diverse group of people. The one thing that bonds us together is Love. That Love focuses on truth, not man’s doctrines, customs, or perceptions. The Love of the truth is what we can all agree on and allows us to maintain a mutual respect for where each of us at in our walk. We are to forebear one another as we all search out the truth. We don’t need to defend the truth, it will actually defend us. Our Heavenly Father established truth and ultimately judges those in error with the end result being restoration to the truth.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
Each of us has a part in this upcoming Passover. Embrace your purpose and gifts. Don’t focus on the purpose of others, wishing you were operating in their calling. They need your calling in full operation. The mature body needs all of its parts working in unity, without blemish. This is when the “body” can and will be presented to Our Heavenly Father. One’s ego will subtly desire another’s calling. Don’t let that “false” self have an audience in your mind. Cast down that vain imagination. Be content that Our Heavenly Father knows what HE is doing. Place your trust in this reality. Unity is the key and every person is necessary:
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
Do not judge the weakness or ministry of others. Our Heavenly Father places great emphasis on those we think to be less honorable. HE established their calling and gifts for HIS specific purpose. We have no basis to challenge or question HIS wisdom in placing them in those roles:
23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,
25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
We must suffer as Christ suffered. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. Let us minister in unity, loving each other. If you see a need and you can minister to that need, do it. The stronger are called to serve the weaker. We should all pursue the Spiritual Gifts listed just before this passage. Those gifts were given to minister to the maturing of the body into the bond of perfection- Love. The suffering is only temporary until we are fully equipped to minister the fullness of life and Love to others. As we mature, our focus moves from personal preparation to the preparation of others, that we may all obtain the inheritance together in Christ.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.