Commonality: Five Ways to Stay Connected

The commonality is a mind link in a science fiction alien world. The aliens are called Taelons, and the commonality served to connect or link the consciousness of the aliens to each other. I was watching an episode of the show (Earth Final Conflict) recently, and I thought about how as Christians, we share a sort of commonality (connection) with God. Our commonality is not a mind link; it’s through the infilling of Holy Spirit (Jude 20-21).  The work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life is an on-going process. The Holy Spirit convicts, leads, guides, prompts, and assists believers. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the believer will not indulge the sinful acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-21) but will bear the good fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). This connection empowers us to be all that God created us to be. Here are five ways to stay connected to God’s commonality.

1. Abide in Him.  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:5-7).
2. Do what pleases the Father. “And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him” (John 8:29). Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).
3. Follow Christ’s example. “Whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself” (1 John 2:6).
4. Love one another. “For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another” (1 John 3:11).
5. Forgive. “So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];  bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others]” (Colossians 3:11-14).

The beauty of our relationship (commonality) with God is that we have free will. We get to chose how we will live each day and how we will act. Yes, we have a connection with God, and we can either allow that connection to expand and grow (bear fruit) or die (wither on the vine).  Allow the Holy Spirit to continually work in your life. Abide in Him, do what pleases God, follow Christ’s example, love one other, and always forgive. Stay connected.