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The Common Denominator
How do you solve the following equation?
In order to solve the equation, one must find a "common
denominator."
In the above equation, 1/2
is equal to 2/4.
The equation can be rewritten and then
solved in the following
manner:
The same formula for solving "fractions"
can be used in solving
"factions" (conflicts, disagreements).
For example, when a husband and wife are experiencing marital strife, they
need a common denominator in order to come to a resolution.
The common denominator that a married couple needs to work through
a disagreement is more than
just what the two may have in common, or some things upon which they may
both agree. The Common
Denominator that will help a married couple through ANY
difficulty is:
-Jesus
Christ-
The strength of a couple's relationship is determined by the foundation
upon which it
is built. The ONLY sure
foundation upon which a marriage may withstand all the storms of life is
what Jesus calls, "The Rock."
He said, "Therefore everyone who HEARS these words of
mine AND PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a -WISE MAN- who built his house
on the ROCK. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and
beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundation on the rock. But
everyone who HEARS these words of mine and DOES NOT PUTS
THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a -FOOLISH MAN- who built his house on
SAND. The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell
with a great crash" (Matthew 7:24-27).
What Jesus said about building "houses" is true for building
lives and building families. ONLY
those lives - or marriages - that are built upon the Rock (hearing and
doing the will of God) will withstand the storms - including strife and
disagreements - of life.
You and I also need a common denominator when it
comes to our relationship with God.
ALL of us sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) -
due to our sin, we are separated from God.
But because of His great love for us, God sent His Son to be the
Common Denominator, making reconciliation with God possible.
Jesus went to the cross on our behalf, paying the price for our
sins. Through Him - and ONLY
through Him, THE Common Denominator (John 14:6) -- can we be
reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18).
We are reconciled to God through Christ when we "hear"
and "put into practice" faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confession (Romans 10:9-10), baptism (immersion) for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38), AND a life of continued obedience to His will (1 John 1:7).
When it comes to "adding fractions" and "solving
factions", one MUST have a common denominator!
Have YOU found THE Common
Denominator?
God
bless you.
David
A. Sargent
/ W.T.
Allison
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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