Issue 994 – Twirling Discs of … Ice – February 28, 2023
My friend Candus, from Clearwater, BC, took this photo recently at the confluence of the crystal clear Clearwater and muddier North Thompson Rivers. It was a favourite spot for Kathy and me, being only a short walk from our homes.
A disc of ice forms where the water whirlpools at the junction of the two rivers. The disc can reach a hundred feet across and slowly spins clockwise in the current. It is quite a fantastic sight that I can sit and watch for a long time.
The dictionary defines confluence as “the place where two rivers flow together and become one larger river.” There is also a less common meaning, “a coming together of people.”
The church is a confluence of incredible beauty. People of every age and culture, with varying theologies, but all with a love for Christ and a saving faith, gather together for worship.
Like the two rivers that come together in Clearwater, the individuals and groups that make up the catholic (universal) church can be very different. We can emphasize disparate parts of the Scripture, differ in practice and have widely divergent ideas about what a worship service should look like.
Some will emphasize head knowledge and good theology is critical. Others will have experience as their benchmark, and still, others will put tradition first. All will value the Scriptures, but each will prioritize them differently. Together they bring a perspective that helps us see the fullness of God at work. Any of them might have errors, but their goal is to see God glorified.
Wherever you travel, you will see differences in how Christianity plays out. As long as the truth is proclaimed, the differences are subordinate.
God created us to be in community; lone ranger Christians are stunted by their very nature. We are repeatedly called to come together.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25
I have the privilege of greeting you at the front doors of our Sunday gathering. I see diverse people coming to worship, families and singles, different cultural backgrounds and skin colours, the always early and the never-on-times, and more. They all converge on our little building (and thousands like it worldwide) to worship the one true King. It is an incredibly encouraging sight to see.
We often take gathering together for granted and seldom stop to think about those collecting with us. Yet, when we remember that these different people choose to gather together so that we can jointly worship, it ought to fill us with awe at the goodness of our Lord.
There might be people you love deeply and those you cannot abide, people who want to worship differently than you do and people with different theology all in one place. All of them were brought together by a common purpose, and all were adopted into the same family as you and me.
We will spend eternity with all of these people, so let’s learn to embrace them now despite our differences.
To God be the glory.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
__________________________________________
Please like and share this post with friends and your circle of influence. Also, feel free to comment.
Did you know that we have an email version? Same great content but in a different format. Subscribe today https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/ gleanings-1
All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
___________________________________________
#Gleanings #theWord #devotional #encouragement #Biblestudy #faith #dailyBible #verseoftheday #grace #GleaningsFromTheword #KevinCorbin #bible #jesus #god #faith #christian #love #Christ #Father #pray #Holyspirit #YHWH #yahweh #Jehovah #bibleverses #jesuschrist #church #prayer #theology #christianity #scripture #gospel #hope #truth #godisgood #worship #believe #blessed #amen #confluence #ice #Clearwater #ClearwaterRiver #NorthThompson#theology #Hebrews10