By Lisa Wilmore
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Pastor James Earl Jackson of the Faith Harvest Baptist Church, Monroe, Louisiana, began his sermonic series this year with the concept and word “Oneness”. Prior to his Sermon, I had not given much thought to the idea of “Oneness” and/or unity unless it was basically dealing with marriages and God’s expectations of how to live as one-as husband and wife. However, after listening to Pastor Jackson’s recent sermons and the Spirit of God on “Oneness”, my heart now desires more than ever to know more on how God purposes us as Christian believers to live in “Oneness”, and why it is important to do so.
Interestingly, God demonstrated His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Due to His love for the World, He united us with those who we may not think is worthy of His love. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians hinges on the Jews and Gentiles being united as one due to One common denominator-that is Jesus Christ. Paul urges the church to “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesian 4:1-6 NIV).
As a point of reference, Pastor Jackson expressed in his first Sunday Sermon of the year that we are living in a divided world, and we must be engaged in a mission of “Oneness”. He stated, as the big idea of his message, “All believers must work diligently to have ‘Oneness’”. Being engaged in “Oneness”, as Pastor Jackson shared in his Sermonic Message, is noted in the believer’s, 1) Calling – believers are called to represent Christ; 2) Conduct – believers must conduct their lives in keeping with the gospel; and 3) Confession- believers share a common existence-that is called to One hope, One Lord (Jesus Christ) and One baptism. “The closer we draw to God, the closer we will be to one another.” (Rev. Dr. James Jackson, Faith Harvest Baptist Church, Jan. 1, 2023).
As we travel throughout our God-given days, we must, with all diligence, live according to God’s desire for us to be as “One”. He has called us to live in unity and “Oneness”.
Let us pray: Precious Lord, help us to live the life that you have called us to live as “One”. As we trust You, help us to be humble, gentle, patient, and bearing with one another in love. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
