MORE THAN MY CIRCLE

If individualism tells us we don’t need anyone else, tribalism tells us we only need people who look, think, and act just like us. But in His final prayer before the cross, Jesus didn’t ask the Father to make us identical—He asked Him to make us one. Unity was at the center of Jesus’ heart, not because it’s easy, but because it’s essential. Real unity in the Church isn’t based on sameness—it’s based on surrender. We are unified because we belong to Jesus.
Tribalism thrives when we start believing that our circle has all the right answers and everyone else is suspect. It’s easier to stick with people who reinforce our opinions and share our background. But that’s not the picture Scripture paints. The Body of Christ is intentionally diverse. It stretches across generations, cultures, personalities, and perspectives. That kind of community isn’t always comfortable—but it’s how we grow. And it’s how the world gets a glimpse of who Jesus really is.
So today, let’s resist the urge to shrink the Church down to our preferences. Let’s open our hearts to the bigger, richer, more beautiful reality of God’s family. The Church is not a tribe—it’s a home. A place where we learn to love past our differences, listen even when we disagree, and hold tightly to the one thing that truly unites us: Jesus.

• Are there people in your church community you tend to avoid because they’re different from you?
• How might God be asking you to step outside your comfort zone and into deeper unity?

Today, take a step toward someone outside your usual circle. Ask a question. Offer encouragement. Sit beside someone new. And if you’re in a conversation where someone shares a different perspective—listen with curiosity instead of defensiveness. Let grace stretch you.