Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

In the first century church there were only two religions that worshiped the one true God. The differences between the two were stark and easy to discern. It was rather black and white in contrast.

Here we are after nearly two thousand years of church age and the contrasts of worship of this one true God looks more like fifty shades of gray. The lines of division of worship have been blurred. How can you know which church to align yourself with, where do you belong? Church shopping can be a difficult and tedious task. We all want to be in a church which worships our God in a bond of peace, unity of the Spirit, and stands firmly upon the Solid Rock.

Just because a church is named Solid Rock does not make it the obvious choice. I would like to believe it is because that is where I worship. This is not an advertisement. Rather it is an indictment. It is my firm belief that any church should not be filled 100% with saved souls. It is our portion to bring in the lost, so 100% participation in the bride in our church would mean we are failing the lost. Having said that, allow me to get back to the fifty shades of churches.

Ephesians 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

It matters not as long as His Spirit is working in you and leading you in your choices. Be where God is calling you and do not expect every person you meet to be a true believer. God will call you in purpose and power. Show Christ and allow Him to change lives. It is after all His church.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

The world is full of unlovable people. I was one of them. The love of God changed me. I am no longer that man. So my problem now is how can I love the unlovable? I think that is a struggle for all of us. Not that we sit in judgment of others but that we find it difficult to love as commanded.

So I have determined that if I cannot do it, then I must allow the Lord to do it. How can I love with that which possesses me? Here in the opening scripture is a hint of how to love that way.

Take his Word and make it mine. Then keep my Word.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Take the Word in, make it yours, take it to heart and the Word will change your heart causing you to love as He loves.