Introduction to The Common Thread

As most of you know, I have been working for several weeks to prepare a format for a devotional to be shared through e-mail. I did not anticipate it would take me this long to send the first edition when I mentioned it to you. I still don't have the certainty to commit to an established period of time between editions. Nevertheless, I'm not going to allow uncertainty to delay the introduction any further.

I first thought I would base the whole devotional on the book written by Robert McGee, The Search for Significance. I have read it several times, always gaining new insights for application toward understanding my emotions, the theology of grace, and breaking the chains of my dependence on the fickle approval and opinions of others. However, I have now decided to broaden my scope so I may include other sources that have been equally influential in my personal development. For now, I will be including additional lessons from Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias, reformed atheist and author C.S. Lewis, and my pastor, Ryan Whitley.

To encompass such a broad range of material, I have chosen the title “The Common Thread” to represent my metaphorical view of what we all have spiritually in common. I believe all Christians are made from the same material so therefore share a “common thread.” The common thread, of course, originates from God himself, with which he makes us in his likeness. Since God is love we are made to be love, evidenced by loving him and loving each other. Being the most masterful of artists, God has woven his thread to form the fabric of our new personal and corporate identities. Likewise, he has uniquely, beautifully and intentionally colored us according to our role in the creation of the ornate tapestry that displays his grand design. To fulfill our role, we must all decisively agree on the objective truth that is the material common to all of us, woven by love. Also, we must understand and work together according to our diversely colored perceptions and our personally unique gifts, thus taking our individual places in forming his grand design.

In this introduction, I feel compelled to offer the disclaimer that I am a wretched sinner. I have confessed Jesus to be my Lord since I was eight years old but I have also committed terrible sins every day since that first confession. Some of my sins have been overlooked because they are corporately common and culturally acceptable. Other sins from my past and flaws in my character have not been so subtle, yielding recognizable consequences such as divorce, loss of the means to finish the remainder of my seminary degree, loss of my career in Army Chaplaincy, restricted access to my son and financial devastation.

Having confessed my sinfulness, I urge you to now accept my confession as a credential for the identity God has given me and my understanding of the power of his grace. Though I am still a sinner, my identity is now defined as one who has been redeemed and justified by the blood of Jesus. I have been completely changed and I am completely clean through the power of his Holy Spirit and the sufficiency of his grace. I believe and accept with indescribable certainty I am dead to my history and live according to what God has produced in me. Like the lepers in the Gospels, I am overcome with wonder and joy for the healing I have received and I am likewise overcome with desire to share with everyone the story of how it happened.

We live in a culture that continues to drift further away from Biblical truth and is dragging many confessing Christians along in the current. The expression of community in our local churches is also being redefined by our culture as families get busier, more technologically dependent, and more brainwashed by the media. Finding other believers who share a passion for and obedience to Scripture is becoming more difficult. It is especially difficult for me since I work alone and at night. I am often physically depleted, mentally dull and emotionally short on the weekends due to the demands of my work and the necessary change to a day schedule. Therefore, I will be extending my hand for fellowship to all of you as most of you are sleeping, sharing my testimony and joy in the Lord through the means I have available. While I welcome any response I do not expect any, knowing God will meet all of my needs. My prayer is he will use this offering to meet yours.

Romans 11:36 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.