Different Pages...United

Christine Olding

Recently I had a huge privilege of being part of a roundtable of leaders within the Body of Christ. To say I was a little nervous would be accurate. Not always seeing myself the way my Father sees me, I was wondering if I would fit in, whether I was, let’s be honest, important or valuable enough. This wasn’t a huge struggle, but I would be remiss if I didn’t own up to it. However, this was primarily overshadowed but a real excitement to meet yet more people who are passionate to stand in the Father’s presence with Jesus and Holy Spirit together. To put aside doctrine and different styles, and worship our Saviour as one body, His beautiful bride. So, I attended, trusting in the truth that my Father was the king, and I as His daughter could hold my head high… even if my knees shook a little.  
 
The ministry hosting this gathering, United in Christ, was founded by Bruno Ierullo and Matteo Calisi both of whom have spent decades reaching out to the body of Christ, praying for and facilitating reconciliation. These efforts are in partnership with a broad span of the body of Christ, from the Vatican to evangelicals and Pentecostals. Bruno, Matteo and those who walk alongside them are a wonderful example of God’s heart for reconciliation within the body of Christ. These leaders seek to highlight a foundation upon which all of the bride can stand united: the unique identity of Jesus, His Father, and Holy Spirit, and the indescribable gift of Jesus’s perfect and unique sacrifice for a loved creation with the invitation to become family. To worship and network together while supporting and honouring our brothers and sisters as we all look to Jesus is a powerful thing! This is the heart that Paul speaks of in Ephesians, to be united as many parts of the same body.  
 
Meeting and praying with other leaders for God to bless His ecclesia with love, humility, security, grace and a deeper hunger for Him, stirred a renewed desire in me to have my old pride, fears and ambitions stripped away. Don’t get me wrong, ambition as a passionate desire to meet a goal is a Godly thing but only if the goal is partnering with His plans and strategies. And His goal is always based in Love, being reconciled to Himself first in order to love those around us selflessly under His direction. Isn’t that what coming close to the Father accomplishes? The more we come close to Him and allow Him to come close to us – abiding -- the more His love illuminates that which is not Love.  And then He graciously walks us through the process again, of forgiveness, surrender, healing, and reconciliation, both with Him and others. This process takes work.  
 
And because God is a God of infinite variety, we will not all look the same as He fashions us. A God who created an elephant, human, tornado, and ladybug is a God of infinite creativity! We each have our own page for the Father to write on, our own part to do, and lives to live -- myself very much included. Each part of the body has a unique and valuable role. Within our Bayith community our heart is to point others to Jesus, and to encourage a lifestyle of discipleship and community within the body of Christ, focusing not on style or doctrine, but on identity and our relationship with the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. We can celebrate how the Father writes on each of our pages differently, creatively and beautifully… all different pages within the same book. United, with our pages bound together, in Jesus. 
 
This roundtable was a gift I will not forget soon and hope to experience again!   
 
Blessings, 
 
Christine 

For more information on United in Christ click here  www.unitedinchrist.global/
To see Bayith's interview with Bruno scroll to the bottom of this blog.