Only unity saves the Serbs

I learned a while ago when researching the embedded symbolism of the Serbian flag...

that the 4 Cyrillic "Cs" found in the smaller shield within the coat of arms stand for the phrase:

"Only unity saves the Serbs." 

This little saying has taken up residency in the back of my mind, because this is the banner under which I wish to travel. There is a specific type of unity, however, that creates a particular type of sealing bond among people. I read about it this morning as I was reading the words of the apostle Paul in the book of 1 Corinthians: 

"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."

-1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NASB)

I am going to visit kin, not strangers. 

One 22 year old American living in Newberg, OR, is actually related to every single follower of Jesus way over there in Serbia. I have a large family! 

For anyone who has felt or does feel insignificant in regards to his or her level of influence/effectiveness/usefulness/impact, and so on--as I have and do--please be encouraged by these words:

"If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any less a part of the body.

And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body just as He desired." 

-1 Corinthians 12:15-18 (NASB)

We have each been placed, hand-picked, distributed, installed for impact by God Himself--as He desired, not us. Who am I to say I am not effective?

Humbling, to say the least. 

Speaking of humility, Paul continues in verse 22:

"On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness,

whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

-1 Corinthians 12:22-25 (NASB, emphasis added)

("Seemliness"...that's an awesome word. I am now going to use it. Thank you, Paul.) 

For all those who are deemed weak/unseemly :), and for those who think themselves weak--you are honored by God in abundance, and more at that. In fact, the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like you:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

-Jesus (Matthew 5:3, NASB)

The poor in spirit, those who "have nothing to offer"...Jesus personally invites you into His kingdom. 

Only unity saves the Serbs, and only unity in Jesus saves the world.


By the way, I'm sure you know...but bodies take a lot to make them function properly... pretty complex stuff :)