It’s amazing the impact non-verbal communication can have. Even after being taught something, watching that same person’s life can also teach you.
It doesn’t matter what you’re taught if the life lived and actions taken speak the opposite lesson. You’ve probably heard that adage: Do as I say, not as I do. Oh, how dangerous is that?
I “caught” a whole lot of not-so-good teaching as I was growing up, along with a lot of great teaching. But some attitudes that are transferred from generation to generation are actually sinful. Racism is an example of this. But so is an attitude of intolerance of those who don’t believe the way, or what, you do. This is dangerous ground according to the Bible.
Jesus is a great example of one who lived out everything He talked about and taught. Jesus said love your neighbor, and He lived that out. He was in the world, but not of the world. He ate with sinners but didn’t partake in their activities; He is our example!
In John chapters 16-17, Jesus is talking to His disciples and to us about unity and loving one another. He emphasized that He and the Father are one and that we are to have the same relationship with Him, the Father, and others. That’s unity. That means that we are to be one with those on the other side of our political leanings.
When it’s all said and done, we’re not going to be asked who we voted for or supported, we’re going to be asked if we loved like Jesus. This is a difficult undertaking, only achieved by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is an integral part of this unity equation. Without His power and urgings, we cannot love like Jesus. That’s why we must be one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Take a moment and read Jesus’ prayer for His disciples and us in John 17:20-26. It’s eye-opening how important what He prayed is.
I in them and You in me – that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that You sent me, and You have loved them just as You have loved me. John 17:23
Let us “catch” what Jesus taught and modeled for us. Let us live in oneness with those the Father has put in our paths.
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