“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
– John 10:16
There’s a saying in Hebrew — shalom. Having recently visited Israel and Jerusalem, I understand shalom is a greeting similar to aloha for Hawaiians. You say it for both hello and goodbye. Shalom, which means peace, has a deep meaning. It’s more than just about peace, it means wholeness, and “all is right with the world.” It doesn’t just mean a lack of violence; it means real peace. In our world, we often experience a surface shalom, but not really a deep shalom. There’s tension in the religious community concerning the space of holy places, history, how things happen, and how people are treated in deeply entrenched tribalism. My argument is if religion went away, I guarantee there would still be the same deep-seated resentments in wars. The impetus would be about different issues, but I think they would still have religious connotations. My theory is that under all these strained relations in politics, religion and culture is tribalism. There is something about humans that desires to belong to a group and a community. Every group and community hinge on narratives — a story. This is our story. And this is why every tribe thinks they’re the righteous ones. We’re the righteous ones! Friend, this tribalism has an answer. I know you think the answer is Jesus, and you’re right, but Jesus gives us a practical answer: food! Yep, you read that right. There’s nothing like food to bring people and tribes together. Food and hospitality are found all throughout the Bible, and it’s always at the heart of reconciliation. Picture Jesus who is constantly sitting and eating with people He’s not supposed to associate with. To sit and eat with someone was to call them a brother or sister; to call them an equal and which led to reconciliation and healing. We can extend Jesus’ hospitality to other tribes and in turn, gain peace (shalom) and understanding of each other. |
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for helping me to remove any underlying bitterness, resentment, and disagreement. Show me how to walk in the spirit of reconciliation, friendship, and hospitality.
Reflection
Have you made an effort to engage those who are outside of your tribe?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
One Response
Hi Bobby – I am continually grateful for your online ministries and look forward to a time of devotion every morning. There’s just something about coming to God first thing. It literally “makes my day”.
And, even if I come across a bad day. I can handle it well with the Heavenly Father at my core. Thank you, Yvette