​Jesus came to earth as the Word incarnate (John 1:1; John 1:14; Matthew 1:23).  His purpose was to die for the sins of the world so that anyone who chooses to become His disciple could be free from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:18; John 8:36; Galatians 5:1).  Some Christians hold the opinion that Jesus gives people a license to sin because of His grace.  While this may sound pleasant to anyone that does not want to go to Hell but still live according to their sinful desires, this could not be further from the truth God established as the plan of salvation (Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:24; 1 John 5:18).  John writes that those who have truly been born of God does not habitually sin but lives a life full of right standing with God due to a desire to please God (1 John 5:2-3, 18).  This lie of using God’s grace to live a lifestyle of pleasing self is a strong deception the spiritual enemies are using to breed confusion among God’s people.  The watering-down of the truth of God allows one to live a false Christian life while declaring the actual path God has for His people is too hard or too restrictive (1 Timothy 4:1-3).  Those that truly desire a relationship with God should remember that Jesus stated broad is the way that leads to destruction and wide is the gate of that path (Matthew 7:13).  Many follow this path because it is easier and more self-fulfilling.  The gate to everlasting life, also known as Heaven, is small and the path is narrow but not impossible to follow (Matthew 7:14; Mark 10:27).  Traveling this path requires a real relationship with God the Father, having Jesus as Savior and Lord, and being led by the Holy Spirit (John 3:16; John 3:3, 5; John 16:13; Romans 8:14).  Christians must be determined to live only by the truth of God’s Word and not by lies of living however one desires to live.  Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).  Having a true relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to make it to Heaven.  Jesus even stated that many will do spiritual things in His name but they will not make it into Heaven because of a lack of knowing Him (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 6:1).  The whole purpose of God’s grace is to set people that have been bound as servants of sin free from sin (Romans 6:1-7).  When people have been set free from this bondage of sin why would a person desire to go back to that way of living?  Why would a person seek to be bound again to something they have recently declared their independence from?  When a person is freed from an abuser others find that it makes no sense to return to that abuser, but many will return to be abused by sin after being born again through Jesus Christ.  Being human everyone will make mistakes or sin voluntarily, but a true relationship with Jesus Christ is reflected in a lifestyle that will sin on occasion due to not obeying the Word of God as opposed to living a life led by sin.  May Christians remember that they have freedom from sin and not freedom to sin.  May those that are not Christian and who are looking for freedom from sin receive it through Jesus Christ and never return to a life of sin again.  

​People may often hear the expression of one mind and one accord, but they may not realize the power of such an activity. In Genesis 11, the people of Babel spoke the same language and were determined to something to make themselves well known or famous for attention (Genesis 11:4).  These people did not want to be scattered into groups but stay as one.  This rebellion got God’s attention because they conspired to reach heaven on their own and not by God’s method (Genesis 11:5).  This group of people were in one mind and one accord even though it was to defy God and achieve their own goals to get to heaven (Genesis 11:6).  God stated that nothing will be restrained from the people when they propose or are determined to do something, so God confounded their language (Genesis 11:6-7).  This confounded means to mix or frustrate.  God did not confuse the people but He did mix the language to prevent the people from achieving the evil within their heart.  God is not the author of confusion and disorder but of peace and order (1 Corinthians 14:33).  When looking at these verses one can understand that people can achieve lots of things when they are in one mind and one accord.  How often do people come together in one mind and one accord for the wrong reasons?  If only the people of God came together with this mindset to do what God directs them to do, the body of Christ would be stronger and more people would be effected by the Word of God that is ministered by God’s people.  God wants all things done appropriately and in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:40).  This includes doing good for His kingdom according to His will not according to a person’s flesh or sinful desires.  A more positive example of a one mind and one accord mindset is found at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).  On the day of Pentecost the people were all with one accord in one place (Acts 2:1).  One accord is defined as one purpose or one mind.  Men seeking God brings a move of God (Acts 2:1-4) but men seeking to do things man’s way brings frustration (Genesis 11:1-9).  Even in this positive example the language was divided but in this example it brings glory to God while Genesis brings judgment.  The difference is found within the heart and the purpose of the gathering.  When people are determined to be together in mind and accord things can be accomplished.  Too many times this mindset or gathering is for the wrong purposes or wrong reasons.  If the Body of Christ across denominations, across differences, with one mind and one accord would work together for the purposes of the Bible there would be greater moves of God throughout our region.  Although churches or meetings may see moves of God in bursts or in seasons, imagine what could happen when Christians all come together based on the foundational teachings of Jesus Christ also known as the cardinal doctrines of the New Testament (Hebrews 6:1-2) to be in one mind and one accord.  May Christians everywhere be determined to honor and serve God with their brothers and sisters in Christ for the purposes that God has for His people.