“That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2: 41-47 The Message Bible)
You remember the line, “Can we all get along?”…posed by another person with the same last name of this author. Well, I have proof that we can all get along and I will share it with you. It just might help you function better today wherever you go in regard to diversity and inclusion. Here is the proof.
In the home where I was raised, there were two parents, three boys and one girl. We were all different. Different in terms of educational pursuit, pastime hobbies, personalities, gender, areas of expertise, and different in terms of generation identification. There was a difference in ages. There were differences in favorite colors, and in fact, our faces were of different hues. Our hair ranged from curly to straight, nappy to not at all.
There were differences, but the one commonality was our identity as children of God. We all were believers. We all were brought up in a home where church was mandatory and there were no exceptions allowed. We all went through Sunday School, Baptist Training Union, Youth Groups, Vacation Bible School, and although not mandatory, many of us went to afternoon service and evening service. (To my children who are reading this, now you know why our household went to church “all the time.”) It was our Christian education that caused us to survive and even support each other, in some way or the other. Oh, we had some little tiffs, tussles, troubles, and times of physical battles (called “fights”), but for the most part, we were living proof that in a Christian home, we could all get along. And it was the love for each other, top to bottom, that helped shape us, with godly principles for be able to get along in this world, including getting over disruptions, disasters, deviancy, derailing setbacks, and distractions offered by the world and presented by our enemy, Satan.
If you want to be part of the proof that we can all get along in this world, beyond our family settings, keep letting your godly attributes rise above any temptations, trouble, and turmoil, and test of our faith in the midst of the changing demographic of the place you reside; in the USA or outside of “My country tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty,” make sure you stay God-conscious and Christ centered. Stay committed as the early believers in the opening passage. Go back and look at the fullness of their commitment. Don’t stray from the faith that the generation before you demonstrated in times past; times where the road was definitely not easy, and many doors were not opened. Don’t depart from that faith that will see you through and enable you to say, “Yes! We can all get along!” Have a tremendous time in presenting “proof” this Friday. Somebody might be saved because of the proof you exhibit in your interactions today. Oh, one last thing! Our heavenly home is made up of a diverse population. Get used to it now! There is peace in that land where we are bound. Yet don’t wait until then to be a peacemaker. Perpetuate peace in this temporary land that we are journeying through now! Be blessed!
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10 ESV)
Mark L. King