ONE

One.

Simple and to the point. More than nothing, one less than two. Put a # in front of it and you get what Teams and Individuals want to be in sporting events.

But what I would like to speak about today is what is wanted by and expected of us in society today. I have to believe that everyone expects and believes that if they try hard enough, they will get to this point in their lives someday. #1 in someone else’s life, #1 in their families eyes, #1 at work after working their way to the top, #1 period, if we try hard enough.

Why? What could possibly be better in the #1 position that can’t be that way in any other? Life is what we make it, right? We are told that we can be anything we want if we try hard enough. Our parents tell us that from birth, but is it really true? I think we can accomplish a lot, but be anything? How many people do you know that are good at a lot, but masters of none. I think there are more of us that fit this description than #1.

Now, before you think that this is a negative thought or that I’m dumping on others, please hang in there with me for a little longer. I worked production for our church this past weekend for a Middle and High School gathering we call “Rush.” Our Young People gather at “Host” homes and discuss things guided toward the overall “theme” of the weekend which this year happened to be “ONE.” Stuart Hall, the speaker for the weekend that we ask to come and speak to our young people for several years now, spoke about the command from God to be “ONE” in the body of Christ. Stuart is an amazing speaker and human being. His insight and ability to reach young people with his words is simply unmatched. He will tell you it comes straight from God and I’m sure a lot of it does, but God doesn’t have to work hard to use Stuart. He had many good things to say this weekend, but probably the best, in my opinion, is to remind us all, young and old, that we are called according to God’s purpose. AS ONE! We get so wrapped around the things of this world and many times forget that nothing, NOT ONE THING, in this world is more important than our relationship with him and to show others what that relationship with him is like. Then ultimately, that person is better equipped to make that decision for themself.

One demonstration that I think made the most impression on me was that we are all trying to conform to what people say we should, determined by them. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddist, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, Women, Men, LGBTQ, or countless others. So, if it’s a Christian, then trying to conform to what people say is the best Christian Example, if it’s a Republican, then trying to conform to what someone says is the best Republican example, and so on. God’s command is to be one all TOGETHER!!! We are all running around talking about how much better we are than the others, instead of working together for a single purpose. We should be working to be the best HUMAN we can be. Human Beings are the only species that can live below our intentions. Because we have the choice. All other Species live to their intentions. God created us this way. To simply create us and then make us Love him would not have met IT’S intention. He Loves us and Created us in his image so we have the CHOICE to LOVE. But we don’t. We don’t love each other. We don’t love our neighbors. We don’t even love our spouses or family. Why? Because we believe that we have the right to not love. And hence the world as we know it today!!!

BUT…we have the choice, Right? We Have The Choice! WE HAVE THE CHOICE!!!

Let’s prove God right! Let’s show him that he created with an ability to live up to our intention! Now, please don’t get me wrong. As far as God is concerned, it’s not enough to just be a good person. He also wants to have a personal relationship with him. In fact, that’s the most important thing to him. Jesus said, “No man shall come to the father except by me.” Let’s be One! Instead of being #1, let’s be one together. All of Us. One in HIM!

I Love You All!!!

It should be noted that several of the examples from above were parts of Stuart Hall’s sermons.

Thank You Stuart Hall. Hopefully, it was ok to use some of your examples. Thank you God for Saving His Life and allowing him to continue to spread your word.