One Heart

Jim:

I see a theme running through these three passages that has to do with community established under God’s authority and uniting all people.

Jeremiah 32:36-44
It starts in Jeremiah where verse 39 says, “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for all time, for their own good and the good of their children after them.” I love the image of a people having “one heart,” which to me suggests a people who are focused on the same issues and who are guided by the same concerns for one another. In this case it is fear of the Lord, another way of saying a respect for God’s will, that unites God’s people. What would it look like if the church universal shared one heart? How might we serve God more effectively? How would we respond to one another? It’s a compelling image and something to seek after.

Romans 13:1-14
Paul wants his readers in Rome to respect community as well, even if that community is made up of non-Christians. Verse 10 says, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Earlier in the chapter Paul has spoken about the importance of respecting civil authority which God has established for the betterment of society. But it is important to go further, to love one another as well, because when we love those around us we build a greater community, one within the law of God. You can’t commit adultery, or murder, or steal if you love your neighbors as yourselves he says. He might also have said to have “one heart” based on the love of God.

Luke 8:16-25
Here verse 21 says, “But (Jesus) said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’” Jesus called a new family, a new community into being based on his message of the coming reign of God. Any who follow God’s word and do what God calls them to do will be a part of that family. In other words, they will have one heart.