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Bible reading for January 13-14 Jan 13 -- Nehemiah 3 and Acts 13 Jan 14 -- Nehemiah 4 and Acts 14 ================    "So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." (Nehemiah 4:6)  LABOR (ch 3).   Principle: the work is divided, and everyone has a part.  Observe the many people involved in this wall-building project. What stands out to you?  What's unusual or unexpected about these people? Here is a diverse group of volunteers placed in various locations, united in their work to benefit the whole. "Diversity" has become a politically-charged word in our culture, but Christians must agree that in God's creation, and among his redeemed people, there is great diversity. Membership in the body of Christ transcends race, gender, class, ethnicity, education, age, party, wealth, and rank. There is one major difference, however, in how the Bible views diversity: the biblical concept of diversity ...

Bible reading for April 25.  Numbers 2. "The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side." (Num 2:2)  Order and diversity. In this chapter the Lord specifies the arrangement of the tribes around the tabernacle.  Each tribal group, under its own banner, faced the tabernacle, which was the center of the nation.  This reflects a principle, I believe, of the orderliness of God: just as he divided and ordered creation in the first chapters of Genesis, so now he divides and orders his people.  However, all are faced toward the one true and living God as the center which unites them. There was unity and diversity at the same time . In discussing the spiritual gifts distributed among God's people, Paul spoke of a diversity of gifts coming from the same God (1 Cor 12:4-7).  Peter calls this the varied, or manifold, grace of God (1 Pet 4:10)....

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands..."   (Revelation 7:9 ESV) In preparing believers to partake in the Lord's Supper for the first time, Dutch pastor and theologian, Herman Bavinck gave a series of meditations on how and why we publicly confess our faith in Christ.  The sixth message was entitled, "The Diversity of Confession".  Below is an excerpt (underlining added) ... "To be sure, people are already endlessly different from each other in the natural life.  Gender and age, talents and character, education and  environment, country and people, time and place, class and position, and diversity of gifts of intellect and heart all bring about the greatest  changes in the opinion and view of things.  No two people are exactly alike. "And th...