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As we conclude our series on Radiance: A Practical Study on the 7 Churches of Revelation, I want to end with a conclusion that will help tie things together.  You know, I set out on this journey, asking God to open my mind and heart to understand what He wants from His church.  I expected God to speak through His Word, through prayer time, through studying, and through those of you who have joined on this quest with me.  I sort of came at this with a blank slate – no hidden agenda, no preconceived ideas.  I wanted to push aside any traditional ideas I held and take an honest assessment to see what God’s desire was.  So, what did I learn?

First, I didn’t come away with any revolutionary church models or program ideas.  What I came away with was a compelling call as an individual to live a life of radiance.  How can I expect the church in which I participate to be a radiant lampstand, if I myself am not reflecting the glory of God?  It’s amazing that so often we have expectations for the Body of Christ that we’re not even willing to live up to.  Jesus calls individuals first, and then He brings them together to form the Body of Christ.  The lampstand – the seven branch menorah – that we’re told represents the church – is a reminder that there are multiple lights that make up the candlestick.

In each letter, Jesus begins by introducing Himself in some way that reiterates John’s vision in Revelation 1 and speaks to a particular issue in the churches.  Jesus doesn’t end the letter with Himself; He begins with it.  In other words, it  should clue us in on the fact that Jesus is and should be the purpose of the church.  Often in a church’s life, there are talks about strategic plans, mission, vision.  Each church has its distinction whether its outreach, fellowship, worship, teaching, etc.  Those aspects are not bad in and of themselves, but sometimes we get so caught up on doing something because that’s what we do and that’s what we’re good at instead of asking, “God, what do you want from us?”  He may give us resources to nudge us in a different direction, and we may push them away because they don’t fit with our church culture.  Remember this is God’s Church – not mine, not yours.  We’re just humble servants invited to participate with the Lord in His Kingdom on earth.

Not only should Jesus be the purpose of the church, but He should be the purpose of our lives.  What is your purpose?  Is it to go to work, to provide for your family, to be an excellent spouse, or an excellent parent, or to live the American dream?  Those things aren’t bad at all.  But does your life center around the Lord, or do you try to fit the Lord around your plans for your life?  If you were to say to yourself, “My purpose to exist, to live out today, in what I do this week, this year, this lifetime is centered around the Lord Jesus,” what things might change?  Jesus desires to be the apple of our eye.  Just as He laid aside all of His desires of self-preservation, self-boasting, selfish gain for the redemption of your heart, so He desires that we live, and move, and exist in Him.

Throughout this study, we’ve seen some drastic differences in the churches.  We’ve seen churches that seemed to grasp their understanding that they were citizens of a different world and kingdom.  We’ve also seen the churches that appeared to have a desire to live out the pleasures of the Roman world.  Jesus tells us that we are citizens of Heaven – not just after we die but the moment we believe.  Because when we believe, we are adopted, sealed, and set apart from this world.  Let me ask a question, if you went around thinking every moment, “I am a child of the King of kings,” what might change?  Would your thoughts change, your desires, your plans, your problems, your purposes?  Paul tells us in Romans 12 to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  In other words, when we realize we’re a child of God, it becomes much easier to live like one.

Something marvelous happens the moment we believe: we are infused with the Holy Spirit.  God Almighty dwells within us, transforming our lives to look more like Him.  When I read about Moses’ relationship with God, I get envious.  I want to have those glowing Sinai experiences.  You know what Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 3?  What Moses had paled in comparison to what we have – the indwelling of God Himself.  It means my life really can be radiant.  I may not see it, but others do.  Oh boy do they ever.  In a dark, desperate, lonely, sin-driven, selfish world, you better believe that someone infused and radiating the light of Christ will be as noticeable as a lighthouse at the edge of the ocean.  Like a florescent night light you hold up to a lamp to initiate its radiance, your walk with God will change your life.

So how does church fit into all of this?  Well, if my personal life is centered around the purpose of Jesus and I get together with others who have the same mindset, we will have unity in Christ.  If I’m radiating the glory of God, and I get together with others who are also radiating the glory of God, then we are going to collectively radiate the glory of God.  We may look different, have different mannerisms, have different gifts, but we will be driven by a passion for the purpose of Jesus.  What should we accomplish together as a Church?  God will let us know.  When we seek Him, He communes with us and gives us a heart that reflects His love, mission, and desire.  That is what it means to be a radiant person.  With God as our focus, our light source, together we can be a radiant church.

 

Reading: Matthew 6:19-34

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Right now I’m in the middle of a financial overhaul.  We’re trying to refinance both of our houses, and at the same time I’m trying to sell my car and buy a newer one.  I’ve been talking with my spouse, my financial advisers, and my parents – weighing different options, crunching numbers, and trying to dive into something that makes financial sense.  After studying Laodicea, I stopped to do something I neglected to do from the very beginning… seek the Lord.

Laodicea was a very wealthy city and a leader in the world in the field of medicine.  In 60 AD, they suffered a devastating earthquake that left the town in shambles.  The Roman government offered money to the city of Laodicea to help rebuild, but the metropolis was too proud to accept charity.  “Thanks, but we have enough money.  We don’t need a thing,” they replied.

Jesus chastises the Church of Laodicea because of their attitude of self reliance.  In fact, He points out the very words that the city used in their refusal of Rome’s help.  “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

Laodicea had money, they had fancy clothes, and they had medicine, but they didn’t have Jesus.  His response is to acquire His gold, His white clothes of purity, and His eye medicine to heal their spiritual blindness.  In other words, Jesus wanted the church to stop being self-reliant and start being reliant on Him.

Many times throughout this series, we’ve looked at the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18.  It’s a reminder that blessings like money and medicine are not evil.  What’s evil is how self-reliant we can easily become when we have these things.

Imagine you’re walking through the store, and you see a candy bar.  You’re hungry, so you think to yourself, “I’ll just buy it.”  After all, it’s only about a dollar.  If someone asked you if you had consulted the Lord before you decided to buy it, you might laugh.  After all, It’s only a candy bar.  It’s not like a car.  I’m sure God will be okay with it.

So let’s inflate this hypothetical story for a moment.  Imagine you’re a multi-millionaire, and you drive by a dealership and see a good looking, economical car.  You go in and acquire it with cash.  If someone asked you if you had consulted the Lord before you decided to buy it, you might laugh.  After all, it’s only a mainstream car.  It’s not like it’s a Ferrari or a house.  I’m sure God will be okay with it.

Do you see my point?  The attitude is the same.  It’s just the amount of money involved is different.  Our reliance on God is often relative; it depends on what means we have.  Consider our health for a moment.  If you get a little cold, do you ever talk to the Lord about it?  Or do you neglect praying for healing because you know a little amoxicillin will do the trick?  We may say things like “God helps those who help themselves” and dismiss the need to seek the Lord in “routine matters.”  Sometimes we think that if we have the means or if something seems conventionally wise, then it’s obviously the Lord’s will.  Others may practice the opposite extreme.  Because they want to be reliant on the Lord, they think that making money or taking medicine is an act contrary to faith.

We need to think differently about Jesus.  Instead of thinking about Him as just a healer or just a financial adviser, we need to think of Him as our Lord and friend.  Just as a child is reliant on their Father, Jesus invites us to rely on Him.  When we’re so used to being self-reliant, then it’s tough to incorporate God in our lives and be reliant on Him.  Jesus will probably still use that medicine and that money, but the difference of being God-reliant is that we include Him in our lives, not just when we are at a point beyond our means.

Jesus’ desire is to have an intimate relationship with us.  Just as we walk with our spouses, consulting them in our decisions, talking to them about what’s going on in our lives, Jesus wants the same.  When we give Jesus that place in our lives, we honor Him, and He reveals His heart to us.  Like Moses, we become so accustomed to His radiant presence, we say, “I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything without You.”  Like Enoch, we walk with God through this life and into the next.

 

Reading: Romans 8:1-17

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Imagine living in Laodicea.  It was a city that had no water source, so like many Roman cities, it relied on aqueducts to channel in water from a nearby source or town.  Imagine on a hot, parching day in Eastern Turkey.  You’ve been doing something strenuous in the hot sun – maybe building a house with thick clay.  After work, you rush over to the aqueduct to get a refreshing drink of water.  As the water pours off the aqueduct, it’s lukewarm.  When it started from the source, it was cold and refreshing, but the aqueduct (which was baking in the sun all day) caused the water to heat up.  You walk away dissatisfied.

Jesus chastises Laodicea for having a faith that was a lot like that unrefreshing water.  He says, “I wish you were hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth.”

What does it mean that they were lukewarm?  It could mean that they didn’t own their faith.  Maybe they were living their parents’ faith.  Maybe they were a church that simply went through the motions but didn’t have love or a personal relationship with God.  Like the Pharisees, they were purely religious – honoring God with their lips though their hearts were far from Him.  Perhaps their lukewarm faith might refer to the fact that they were more interested in being a Roman than being a Christian.  Maybe they downplayed their Christianity in order to fit in with the culture.

You see, when we’re cold, we recognize our need to find a source of heat.  When Jesus says, “I wish you would rather be cold,” I think He’s telling them that by being cold, they would have a more honest assessment of their spiritual depravity and need for God.  But being lukewarm, they are living a delusion.  They think they are fine.  Yes, they’re staying hydrated from the water of the aqueduct, but they’re missing all of the refreshment.  There’s nothing satisfying about their spiritual state.

Back in the late 90s, there was a song by D.C. Talk called “Jesus Freak.”  The lyrics referenced John the Baptist, who to the culture of his day, seemed like a wild man.  In the second verse, they liken John the Baptist to the modern-day guy on the street corner, holding up a sign and preaching that Jesus saves.

You may know a person that has become so committed to the cause of Jesus that they almost seem a little odd in our culture.  They’re always speaking out about it – telling people like it is.  They’re the Jesus freaks – always giving credit to their Heavenly Father and turning the conversation back to Him.  I think sometimes we prefer lapping from the aqueduct of lukewarm Christianity, rather than gulping the cold, refreshing living water.  Why?  Because I think we know that when we drink from the pure waters of the Holy Spirit, not only will it change us, but it will make us so unsatisfied with the lukewarm junk we’ve been drinking, that we’ll never go back to the socioreligious water cooler.

Let’s be honest.  You’re not afraid of being a fanatic.  You wear your sports team hats and yell at the TV like a lunatic (do you really think the players can hear you?).  With pride, you wear your team’s t-shirt into a crowded room of rivals.  For us Ravens fans, we grew up thinking purple was a girly color.  Since the Ravens came to town, I’ve never seen so many burly guys, with scruffy faces, and beer bellies wear purple with pride.  Why?  Because they’re fanatics.  Because we’re not afraid to be consumed with a passion for something we love, especially when everyone else is also unashamed.

Here’s our challenge.  Let’s be consumed with a passion for Jesus – a passion that makes us unafraid and unashamed to be a fanatic for the Savior of the world.  I think we might find a group of people who will join right in with us.

Reading: Matthew 21:1-17

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If you’re into soap operas, then this year’s lead-up to the presidential election has brought you plenty of entertainment.  There’s back-stabbing, dirt digging, polarized commercials, lofty promises, and shady reputations.  Watching these candidates brand and market themselves is like watching a McDonald’s commercial.  They want us to see the delicious-looking food and forget about the calories and the malnutrition.  So instead of portraying their entire personality, they’ll hide back the anger and frustration, so that we can see their cool, calm, collective personality even under attack and pressure.

Jesus did not come to earth to win votes.  He came to earth to do His Father’s will.  In today’s reading, we encounter a particularly busy day for the Messiah.   Notice all of the junxtaposing events.  First, in probably the high-point of Jesus’ pre-resurrection ministry, He humbly enters Jerusalem riding a colt to cheers of “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”  He immediately heads up to the Temple mount where He finds people buying, selling, and taking advantage of others.  They had turned the outer courts of the Temple into a marketplace.  His appearance as a humble man quickly turns, as He fashions a whip of cords, drives out the men, and flips over the money tables.  Then while some people are probably avoiding eye contact with what appears to be a raging lunatic, others approached Him.  As was typical earlier on in Jesus’ ministry, the physically disabled asked for healing.  And like He always did, Jesus heals them.  In turn, they join the day’s early chorus, crying, “Hosanna!”

Is Jesus schizophrenic?  If we were to watch this day’s events unfold, might we mistake Him as being bipolar?  One thing’s clear; He’s certainly not going to win an election acting so erratically.  Humility one moment, anger the next, followed by healing?  It’s enough to make your head spin.

As human beings, we have a distinct personality and disposition that comes into play in every circumstance.  Perhaps someone ridden with pride might have entered into Jerusalem riding a mustang, thinking, “Finally a little deserving praise.”  That person might go up to the Temple and say, “I’m better than you.  Get out!”  And then thinking how much better He was than everyone else, He would, in pity, heal the diseased.

Someone who was meek and mild might look right at place riding on a donkey.  But when they were faced with confrontation, they might elect to back down or handle the situation more diplomatically or sheepishly and give up if the people didn’t comply.

In Jesus, we see completeness.  We are presented with a range of personalities, even conflicting personalities, yet He’s always appropriate for the situation.  To the Church at Laodicea, Jesus introduces Himself as the Amen, the faithful and true witness.  What is He a witness of?  He is a witness of the holy perfection and completeness of God.

Notice what John describes in Revelation 1.  “And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.  The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.  His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.”

What might we say Jesus looks like?  Some might immediately identify with Jesus’ hair and say, “He looks old and wise.”  Some might immediately notice His eyes of fire and the double-edged sword coming from His mouth and say, “He is a judge.”  Some might see the lampstands and say, “He is our High Priest.”  Others might point to the robe and golden sash and call Him a King.  Some might see the stars in His hand and say, “He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth.”

They would all be correct.  Jesus is all of these things.  We typically identify with a few of Jesus’ qualities more than others.  We meditate on Jesus’ humility as He enters triumphantly, but we might downplay His holy wrath.  But Jesus reminds us in Revelation 1-3 that He is complete.  And like John, our response should be to fall on our faces before Him in profound worship.  He truly is worthy of our praise.

 

Reading: Matthew 16:5-19

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There is much debate over Jesus’ words to Peter in Matthew 16:19 – “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Some believe this is the beginning of Jesus’ establishment of apostolic authority that would be passed down through the Church.  Others believe that this is an authority specific to Peter that designates his mission to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

In the letter to the Church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3, we have another mention of keys.  This time it is referring to the key of the house of David.  Note the similarities between Revelation 3:7 and Matthew 16:19. “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

Similarly, in Isaiah 22, we read some of the exact same words found in Revelation 3:7.  “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah.  I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”  Who is this Eliakim son of Hilkiah that the Lord says will have the key to the house of David?  While he was an administrator under Hezekiah, some point to his name (Eliakim means “Resurrection of God” and Hilkiah means “Portion of Jehovah”) as an indication that this is a type of Messianic prophecy.  Whether one or both are true, there is something more significant about these passages that commands our attention.

There is a theme that runs through this letter.  It is the theme of authority and truth.  In Revelation 3:9, Jesus tells this Church in Philadelphia, “I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”  We can imagine what is going on here.  There are some Jews in Philadelphia who are causing problems for these Believers.  No doubt they are using similar tactics that the Pharisees did with Jesus: claiming authority by citing their succession from Abraham like the Pharisees did in John 8 or discounting Jesus’ authenticity by pointing out that He did not follow their traditions like the Jewish leaders did in Mark 7.

In both circumstances, Jesus fires back.  In John 8:39, Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do what Abraham did.”  In Mark 7:8, Jesus defends His authority by telling the Pharisees, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”  What is Jesus telling us?  He’s telling us that those who are of Him, act like Him.  Jesus warns us in Matthew 7, “You will know the tree by its fruit.”

In this letter to Philadelphia, Jesus identifies Himself as “Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.”  In a city where Believers were told that they were not of God, not God’s true children, or not going to heaven, Jesus assures us that all authority has been given and is found in Him.  In Isaiah 22 and Matthew 16, the Lord gives authority to others to do His work, but that is only possible because it is the Lord Himself who holds the keys. There is a difference between having the authority to give and being given.  One is the owner the other is the receiver.  One is the owner and the other is the servant.

Beware of false prophets and false churches.  Beware of those who claim authority but do not bear the fruit of God.  As Jesus explained Himself – neither succession nor tradition are marks for authenticity.  Beware of those who try to hold fear of salvation over you because you are not a member of their church.  Acts 4:12 assures us that salvation is found in no other name under heaven but of Jesus Christ.

Take a look at God’s promises.  First, He tells the Believers in Philadelphia that He will make those who are deceiving them acknowledge that God loves the Believers.  Then He promises those who are victorious permanency in God’s Kingdom and tells us that He will write on them the name of God, the name of the city of God, and His own name.  In other words, He’s telling us that, despite what others might say in order to deceive us, we belong to Him.  In an era where there’s so much talk of identification cards that demonstrate legal status, these promises should resonate with us.  These are promises of our citizenship in Heaven – children of God and in His heart.

Reading: Hebrews 12:1-11

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A woman, suffering from the loss of a family member, brushed past her pastor one Sunday morning.

“How are you doing?” he jovially asked.

“I’m hanging on,” she responded, overwhelmed by the weight of all that was going on.

“Hanging on?  We’re not supposed to be just hanging on,” he responded.  “We’re supposed to live victoriously!”

She approached another minister and asked.  “Is he right?  Am I supposed to be living victoriously?”

The pastor thought for a moment and then nodded.  “Yes, we are supposed to live victoriously.  But sometimes the victory is just hanging on.”

I love that story and the encouragement the second pastor gave to her.  I don’t know about you, but there have been times when I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.  I’m sure you have as well.  It might be stress, grief, or pain, but sometimes the burdens we bear can almost seem like more than we can handle.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go on a ski trip to Colorado.  At one point, I was skiing down a run that was labeled “experts only.”  As I paused to catch my breath, I watched a father lead his daughter down the same intimidating run.  The mom followed close behind.  The young girl, probably no older than seven, whose name was Lexi, (judging by the parents’ constant encouragement), slowly carved her way with her skis following close behind her father.  Her crying from beneath her helmet and mask revealed a little girl, who was frightened by the intense angle of the mountain face.  As she skied behind her father, she cautiously followed the path that he had carved out of the snow.  Before long, Lexi was down the mountain, and my wife and I cheered for her, as Lexi sobbed in relief.

Sometimes we are like Lexi.  We feel more comfortable coasting through life, but sometimes our Heavenly Father gives us a challenge.  Sometimes that challenge appears frightening and overwhelming.  He might be challenging us in ministry.  He might be strengthening us through a trial.  Sometimes we can feel as unsteady as a seven year old on skis, a slip away from hurling down the mountain at break-neck speed.  But no matter where our Father leads us; He never leaves us alone.

“Follow me,” He says, just as Lexi’s dad said to her.  “You can do it.  Just don’t veer off my tracks.  I would never lead you to a place I didn’t think you could handle.  You can do this.  Just keep your eyes focused on me and where I’m leading.”   We may not ski down that mountain like an Olympic champ, but the victory sometimes is just following our Father – slow and steady in His groomed path – to the bottom of the run.

I’m reminded of the Hebrew word qavah, which means to hope or to wait.  It’s used in passages such as Isaiah 40:31 –  “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Qavah not only means to wait or to hope, but it also means to braid or bind together.  The idea that we’re presented with is that when we stick together with the Lord, we will live victoriously.

The promise given to the Church at Philadelphia – a church who, though amazingly faithful, was barely hanging on, is that God will make the victorious a pillar in His temple.  Even though we seem feeble, we seem like we’re just holding on, God sees something different.  He sees us following Him – slow and steady.  Victory is not measured by what we accomplish or how fast we accomplish it.  It is measured on how we follow Jesus.  Without Him, our accomplishments are nothing if not reckless.  But those who keep their eyes on Jesus are the example in His Kingdom, a pillar of strength in His Temple.  As Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Reading: Colossians 4:2-6

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Missionaries often talk about countries in terms of open or closed.  If they are an open country, it means that the government doesn’t put prohibitions or heavy restrictions on missionaries to come and spread the Gospel.  If it is closed, it means that the missionary must disguise their work and take risks.

Many countries today are still closed to the Gospel and the work of missionaries – China, Turkey, Iran, Morocco, just to name a few.  Many incredible stories have been recorded by missionaries who smuggled in Bibles behind the Iron Curtain during the height of the USSR.  And when the Iron Curtain fell, missionaries jumped on the opportunity to freely enter into a formerly Gospel squelching land.

Natural disasters often provide the perfect open door for Christian organizations.  Because many Christian missions organizations do humanitarian aid (and secretly evangelize), the hurting country desperately welcomes these missionaries to help out homeless and injured citizens.

Philadelphia, in Asia Minor, was a city built for the work of spreading a doctrine.  No, not Christianity.  It was an establishment for spreading Hellenism – the Greek language, religion, and way of life.  A major road went through Philadelphia making it a city where Europe met the East and the various barbaric people beyond.

However, Christianity grew in Philadelphia, and soon Philadelphia became a prominent place not for the spread of Hellenism but of the Gospel of Jesus.  In Revelation 3, Jesus tells them to see the open door he had placed before them that no one could shut.  Perhaps, what Jesus is referring to is an opportunity to spread the Gospel.

Keep in mind that from the mid first century until the early fourth century, Christians faced intense persecution from ten particular Roman emperors, beginning with Nero and ending with Diocletian.  Under those emperors, the Roman Empire was very much closed.  However, despite their best efforts, despite the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Christians they slaughtered, the Gospel continued to flourish.

Philadelphia was a beautiful and rich city; however, it experienced a number of devastating earthquakes which brought ruin onto its many buildings and temples.  Just like in the world today, this probably provided the perfect opportunity for Christians to share the love of Jesus.

Like Paul said in today’s reading, we must always pray for an open door.  We must pray for the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of individuals to be receptive to the Word of Truth.  And we must pray for the wisdom and courage to see and take hold of such an opportunity when it arises.  Sometimes, just like the crumbling of walls in an earthquake, when a person is facing personal crisis, their heart is softened, and they are open to listening.  What an opportunity to be an instrument that radiates the love and care of our Heavenly Father.