One in Christ Jesus
Day 620, Thursday, April 23
Galatians 3:23 – 4:20
Christianity has the answer to divisiveness in the world, and it is expressed best in the closing verses of Galatians. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
The mantra of our day is “Celebrate diversity.” Paul presents an even more powerful vision: Celebrate unity.
This wasn’t a new idea that Paul introduced. At the very birth of the church in the second chapter of Acts people from many nations who spoke many languages were gathered together. When God’s Spirit descended on them each heard the gospel proclaimed in his or her own language. Diversity is our natural state and we recognize it—but God brings something more powerful, making diverse people into brothers and sisters in his family.
I believe the phrasing of verse 28 is important. It doesn’t say that the church has both Jew and Gentile, both slave and free, both male and female. It says these categories no longer matter; our identity as children of God is the only identity we need.

Thursday meditation

Psalms 116:1-6
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

Prayer focus
Lord, make us one.

-Rev. Mark Fleming