	Bob Hostetler > Devotions

No East or West

by Bob Hostetler

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19, NIV).

On our first trip to the Holy Land, my wife and I visited the Garden Tomb near Gordon's Calvary in Jerusalem. We were seated with our tour group in the lovely environs of the garden, which some believe to be the site of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We commenced our visit with a brief worship service and concluded worship with a verse of the song, "I Serve a Risen Savior (He Lives!)." As we sang the verse and chorus in English, another group visiting the tomb began singing with us. As I listened, however, I realized that their words were different from ours, for they sang in another language. Both groups sang heartily, and smiles and nods were exchanged joyfully as we sang the affirmation of faith, "You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart!"

When the song and the service were over, the two groups returned to hushed conversation among themselves, neither group comprehending the language of the other. But in those few moments, though our language was different, we united with our brothers and sisters from another country and shared our testimony of a living Lord!

May it always be so. May God help us to consistently overcome barriers of language, race, nationality, and culture to sing the song of a Risen, Living Savior, in whom there is no east or west, "no south or north, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth."

PRAYER: "Thank you, Lord, for the power of your resurrection and the worldwide communion that is ours because of you."

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