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From the beginning, satan tried to sow seeds of division.
He tried to separate Adam and Eve from their Father God.
He then tried to get them to turn on each other. He continued with their children. Cain killed Abel.
Division continued throughout the Bible and into our history and present day lives.
We oppose each other almost from the beginning of our lives. Children learn early about winning and losing. They learn performance is tied to acceptance and acceptance is tied to love.
In order to be chosen, recognized and loved, they must be better than others. They must win. The others must lose.
The whole concept of sports is built around making someone lose. Those who love the games will no doubt, point to all the positives of unity within a team, but at the end of the day, the goal is for another group to become losers.
Winning and losing is not confined to sports. We bring the concept into our religious lives. Many people have been killed in very unholy wars that were called Holy.
We are divided into different religions and denominations. We sometimes call those who do not think like us "lost." We see ourselves as winners and them as losers.
But God stands in the middle of this win/lose world, not as a referee, but as a coach for all. He does not see division. He sees everyone He created United in Him as one.
God Himself is One. As much as Satan has tried to convince us God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit are separate, they are not. Jesus plainly stated, "I and the Father are One."
John 10:30
God created us to be one in Him. Jesus said, "On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you."
John 14:20
Jesus prayed we would know that not only are we one with God, we are also one with each other. There are no losers. In God's World, there are only winners.
What could satan do with that? Try to keep us from ever knowing.
Keep us judging each other. Keep us condemning each other. Keep us withholding forgiveness, mercy and grace. Keep us bitter and envious. Keep us arguing and fighting against each other.
Try to make us forget that all the commandments came down to two simple ones. Love God. Love each other.
Jesus prayed for us.
" … that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in you. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me."
John 17:21
Note: Jesus prayed we would ALL be one, no exclusions. No losers. Only winners in Him!
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