Team Unity

Recently, I was talking with a friend, Tim, about influential people in our lives and in our faith journey. Interestingly, he hadn’t seen or talked to the person most influential in his life during the ten years previous to his decision to follow Jesus. I asked him how that worked, and he told me an interesting story. 

One of Tim’s good friends in high school, Jeff, was a Christian. Tim often ate dinner with Jeff’s family. Dinner at Jeff’s house was different. Jeff’s sister and parents always sat down and ate together, and dinner was hardly boring. Tim sometimes wondered when any of them ate, as it seemed like they were always talking. Even though Tim wasn’t part of the family and didn’t share their faith, he could see that they had something special—something different. 

Tim and Jeff eventually went to different colleges and lost touch. Tim’s life was plugging along pretty normally when his mother died. He was an only child and didn’t know his father, so suddenly life felt lonely. In his darkest moment, he remembered the family dinners with Jeff, and their Christian faith, and decided maybe God was what he was missing. From there, he found a church and met Jesus. 

As Tim told me the story, I couldn’t help but think of John 13:34-35 and the fact that the calling card of Christianity ought to be how we love one another. Jeff’s family lived out these verses, and it produced fruit in Tim’s life. You will have similar opportunities on your trip, and in life, to display Christ’s love as you live on mission with Him. 

However, loving one another is not an easy command, especially on a mission trip. You’ll likely be eating, sleeping, and working with the same people. These close quarters provide opportunities to hurt one another. Division and rejection can cause people to think, “If that’s how they treat each other, why would I want to be like them?” This is where Colossians 3:12-14 applies. 

To love one another doesn’t mean we never hurt each other. In fact, Colossians 3:13 suggests just the opposite. However, if we clothe ourselves with the qualities listed in verse 12, ask for and give forgiveness when we hurt each other, and make love the motivating factor of all of it, then we will put Christ’s love on display for all to see and experience. 

Do not underestimate the significance of your relationships—be it with team members, family members, friends, and co-workers. Jesus says we’ll be known by our love. How are you known? Are your relationships constantly fractured, or are they mutually encouraging and peaceful? Do people spend time around you and feel like they’ve experienced God’s love?

Pray and Journal—Are you compassionate? Kind? Humble? Gentle? Patient? Do you forgive as the Lord forgave you? Do you love others? If not, ask God to remove your pride and change your heart and attitude.