I will always say this that it is always a blessing to spend time with the Beauty Of Difference choir and how much these people challenge me and make me want to love Jesus even more, because of their real and authentic lifestyles in Him. During and after rehearsal and our meeting today with Neville D, I felt so happy and grateful to be a part of a people of this kind. Different people from all over the Western Cape coming together to lift and proclaim Jesus through our talents.
What stood out for me today was when Neville asked us if we congratulated Charnelle Hector on her achievement in Excellence of her teaching career that she received recently. He went on speaking about the culture amongst our "mixed", "coloured" people and how the majority of our people do not celebrate with each other and bring honour to their achievements (generally speaking). We were encouraged to go out of way and make a big deal about our sister's achievement.
Now to some this might not be much of a big deal, but that is the very mindset we speak about. Whether small or great we should be enjoying seeing another person excel and move higher and closer toward walking out their destinies. In Romans 12:9-10 it says the following, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another" (NKJV). This scripture is such a key factor and essential part of our journey in the kingdom of God. The principle of servanthood.
In the Beauty Of Difference choir we have different people from different cultures, lifestyles, race groups, and everything else in between. Working with people can become either a burden or a great pleasure, especially if it is a diverse group of people. The kingdom of God teaches us to come together and serve, so immediately every other culture has to bow, because He came to teach us another way, the way of the Father. In His kingdom pride has to come to an end and humility becomes a part of our lives. Humility is not easy, but it is required of us to walk in it.
I can truly say that as I look and spend time with my BOD family I can see the kingdom in each individual. It is humbling and such a rebuke at the same time. Simply because God is busy teaching us His ways through another, but often times we are so fixed on our own ways and own dreams.
What if the church, God's people - and not the building, came to the place where we serve each other to a point where we lose all hypocrisy and we truly deny ourselves of our own ways, the world will see us in a total different light. If we read that passage of scripture and meditate on it, we see that it opens up the chapter 12 with Paul beseeching us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice. Then it goes on further to speak about what a true Christian looks like, and we can not get to this place spoken about in Romans 12 without the Holy Spirit. He is our Helper and guide. We have to die before we can serve our brothers and sisters, because when we die to ourselves, His love is perfected in us ans we can carry out what He desires us to carry out.
So where does this leave us now? See the culture you find yourself in and ask yourself if that is the kingdom culture. May God just break down every culture that is detrimental to our fellow neighbours and let His culture, His kingdom come in our lives.
God bless you Neville and the BOD family. ♡ We honour you on your achievement Charnelle and we acknowledge and ask for more teachers like you in our schools in South Africa.
While you at it, go and like Neville D's facebook page and Beauty Of Difference choir facebook page to stay updated on where we are singing and what we are up to.
Remember we are blessed to be a blessing and not for selfish gain.
Shalom,
Rowyn Coetzee.
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