John 10:16 "I have other sheep too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd."
I used to not think too much about this statement from our Lord, but I have come to recognize just how important of a statement this is. We tend to have a very narrow perspective when it comes to the family of God. In our heads we know that there are Christians everywhere; in our hearts we want them to be just like us. We want others to think like we do, act like we do, and worship like we do. When they don't, we tend to question their experience with God.
The Kingdom of God is not limited to my part of it. There are many valid ways to experience God, live for Him, and understand Him. It's okay if others are radically different than I am. As long as Jesus is the only way, truth and life, we should have no problem with the faith expression of others. It is God who straightens up the messes of our thinking, not us.
Jesus said that there is only one flock and shepherd. He is the shepherd and all who know Him as Savior are the flock. The labels we put on doors and identify ourselves with mean nothing to the Lord. All who have a heart connection with Him are His children, which means that we are brothers and sisters.
We need to check our hearts and be sure that we are loving those whom Jesus loves. We need to set aside those things which keep us away from one another and start acting like a family should act. If we don't, we are living in disobedience to the Lord who commands us to love one another. Actions speak louder than words; are your actions speaking love?
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