I want you stop for a minute and think about something that is really profound.  When you’re sitting in a worship service at Lakewood, consider all of the things that you have in common with the other believers in our sanctuary.

• You all believe that a Creator God made all things from nothing.
• You all believe that a baby was once born without the act of a biological father.
• You all believe that this baby was both fully man, and fully God, at the same time.
• You all believe that this man lived a complete life without sinning even one time.

And maybe even more importantly, you and the believer next to you actually both believe that this man rose from the grave, three days after having been crucified on a cross, that He ascended into heaven, and that He will one day return to earth.  Stop for a moments and consider how absolutely astounding that is.

In 2014, the Islamic terror group known as ISIS operating in Iraq, attacked a group of Iraqi Christians living in the northern area of that country.  Many of the Christians were defenseless women and children, who then fled into the Sinjar Mountains seeking refuge.  Despite having very little food, water, or shelter, many of the Christian refugees remained in the mountains for months, waiting to either be rescued or for the ISIS members at the bottom of the mountain to depart.  Many of those Christians were either killed or died during the attack.

Contrast one of those Christian refugees with your next-door neighbor.  Your neighbor probably speaks English.  He or she probably has the same skin color that you do.  You drive similarly valued vehicles.  You may even share so of the same interests in hobbies and sports teams.  Yet if your neighbor is not a Christian, he does not claim the name of Christ, nor does he obey the commands of the Lord.

Guess what?  You have more in common with the poor, aged, hungry, and desperate woman being persecuted for her faith on the side of a mountain in Iraq, than you do with your non-Christian next-door neighbor. Why?  Because of the gospel.  You see, we have a common salvation in Christ, which is the most importing thing in all of humanity.

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”    – Jude 1:3

Consider this as you worship, as you pray, as you read and hear God’s word.  If the person next to you claims the name of Christ as you do, you both share a unity in the Spirit which cannot be broken.

Blessings, 

Pastor Bruce