“Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:23-25

I’ve joked a few times over the past couple of weeks that I live at our church until VBS is over. After all, I’ve been there most of the day every day this week and was there much of last week too. I’ll be there all of next week too.

While there, I’ve worked alongside my Brothers and Sisters as we used our hands and our minds to prepare decorations and programing. We’ve eaten meals together and laughed together and sang together and made store runs together. We’ve talked about God’s faithfulness in our lives and I’ve learned things about others’ lives that I didn’t know.

We don’t always agree about what to do or how to do it. We question each other’s decisions sometimes. We push back on each others’ thinking. We problem solve together. We let each other win sometimes to keep our work moving forward.

In the tender moments and the tense moments, closer bonds have formed.

You see sweet friends, when we hold resolutely to the hope we profess, when we focus on the fact that God is in control and God has placed us together and God has given us these tasks to do and these problems to solve and these personalities to connect with, we are able to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Why?

Because we each recognize that it’s not about us, it’s not really even about our VBS event, though we want to want to do a good job to show the kiddos who come we love them; it’s about God and His will and His Kingdom gain.

When each person around you remembers the end goal – to see lives changed by the love of God – and Who’s really accomplishing that goal – God – then it’s much easier to set personal preferences aside for God’s leading. When the only agenda present is God’s agenda, it’s much easier to come to agreement.

Brothers and Sisters, we don’t all have to think the same or like the same things or do things the same way to be better together. We just need to remember Who connects us – Holy Spirit – and what unifies us – a desire to see God’s will prevail and His Kingdom grow.

May God make you more aware today of Holy Spirit connection. May you see conflicts melt away under the light of God’s love for one another. May you see the tasks that God calls you to completed through Christ-like fellowship. May your will and the will of those around you be humbled and submitted in unity to God the Father and His will. May you be better together this day and all days.