Today's Scripture Reading (January
13, 2023): 2
Chronicles 18
Family
is strange. Sometimes we fight, but then there are those special moments when
we support each other. North and South Korea have been separated by politics
for more than five decades, but something inside of me wonders if Koreans ever
wake up in the morning and look across the border of their country and
recognize that it is their cousins who are standing on the other side.
Because
of my name, I have always considered myself to be Irish (Mullen=Ireland). I admit
that I am sympathetic to the desires, needs, and politics of the Emerald Isle.
But the truth is that I am Northern European. My heritage is from Ireland, but
I am also English (I am the proud 37th cousin twice removed – or
something like that – of Prince William through the lineage of his mother,
Princess Diana). There is also more than a smattering of Dutch and German blood
that flows through my veins. However, I also know that my ancestors have walked
the paths of North America (the United States and Canada) since the middle of
the 1600s. Even so, something inside of me still responds to news from Northern
Europe; ties still bind me to the land my distant ancestors walked.
David's
Kingdom was divided. Throughout their history, Israel and Judah either warred
against or ignored each other. But deep down, they recognized that the blood of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob flowed through the veins of the people on both sides
of the artificial divide that separated them. Jehoshaphat had made an extra
move to ally himself with the House of Ahab through marriage. So, Ahab sends a
message to his cousin Jehoshaphat who ruled on the other side of the divide.
Ramoth Gilead was given to us, yet it is currently in the hands of a foreign
king. Will you help me get it back?
The
response? "Of course, we are family. What is mine is also yours; as long
as God walks with us, we can walk together." It hadn't always been like
that for the family of Jacob, but this was a special moment when the Kings recognized
that an artificial border could not hide the fact that they were one people. Under
God, they would always be one people, even if they served different earthly
kings.
As
Christians, we believe that we have been adopted by faith into the family of
Abraham. We are one together. Even though we are separated, in Christ, we are
unified into one people. And our goals are the same; we desire to proclaim the
love of God to a world that has forgotten that love. As we walk with God, we
are one, no matter what denominational brand we might carry on the earth. The
Christian Church truly is united in Christ, and we should support and love each
other.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles
19
No comments:
Post a Comment