Same Team, Different Jerseys

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called." — Ephesians 4:3-4
 
Does loving the brothers mean we have to love people who go to different churches?
 
Yes. As long as they follow King Jesus, they are brothers and sisters in Christ, and they're on the same team.
 
I was at my grandson's football game on Friday night. Their colors are red and white. Every time they scored, a student would take the school flag and run in front of the bleachers. But what caught my eye was that the flag wasn't red anymore. It was faded. It looked orange. I thought to myself, "That's messed up. We're red and white, and they've got an orange flag?" But then I realized it was just an old flag.
 
And it hit me. There are some people in the body of Christ who are a little faded. They've got white hair or no hair. The color of their jersey isn't as bright as it used to be. But guess what? They're still on the same team.
 
If you're young and you only want to connect with people your own age, you're going to miss out on a lot of wisdom that God wants to impart to your life. And if you're older and you only hang around people who remember the same songs you do, you're going to miss the energy and passion of the next generation.
 
God wants us connected across generations, across backgrounds, and across denominations. The shade of the jersey may be different, but the team is the same. And that's what matters.