Cooperative

Colossians 3:11-17 (HCSB) - In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian,  slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.  Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive.  Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity.  And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.  Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

You may wonder, why the illustration above, when the trait this week is cooperative.  Well, based off the Scripture in Colossians, I can think of no better word to describe what cooperative is.  You see, it is the cross of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit that brings the unity that God wants us to have so that we can function in a spirit of cooperation.  In Christ, there is no longer the division of race, social status, job title or religious hierarchy.  Yes, there is to be respect of each other for the roles/situations that God has placed us in, but those are simply that...roles.  According to what Paul writes, the divisions that existed before Christ, were taken away at the cross. Paul then says, "Let the message of the Messiah dwell in you richly."  What message lies within your heart today?  Is it one of life that comes from Christ or is it something else?  The message that exists within us will come out from us. 

So, what is the cooperation that needs to be evident in us?  Cooperation with the Holy Spirit through the work of Christ and cooperation with each other among the body Christ, so that the world will know that Christ was sent from the Father.

John 17:20, 21 - I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me.

What message are we sending to the world? What do they see in us?

Scott Forsythe

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