One in Grace - Pastor Erton Köhler

From my heart to yours, I believe this is a time when God is calling us not only to work together but to walk together. Unity is not a strategy. It is a miracle. When Paul walked hundreds of miles to Jerusalem, he didn't go to win an argument but to preserve the unity of the faith. The early church was in crisis. Some wanted to keep old traditions alive, insisting that new believers must first become Jewish before they could follow Jesus. Paul spoke from the heart about what God was doing among the Gentiles. The apostles recognized that the same Spirit working through Peter among the Jews was also working through Paul among the Gentiles. They shook hands and promised to walk together. The gospel was preserved, and the Church stayed one. Unity often comes at a cost, but it always brings reward. It demands humility, patience, and courage. The parable of the porcupines reminds us that in winter, they had to choose between staying apart and freezing or staying together and enduring the sting of their quills. They learned that life is warmer when lived together. Recently, I have seen that same warmth. In remote western Alaska, 11 young adults from GYC Northwest traveled to the village of Togiak, a community of about 770 people that rarely receives missionary groups. They went door to door, offered health programs, led Bible studies for adults, ran a Vacation Bible School for children, and even repaired the local church baptistry. In South America, the Adventist Church reached new audiences through Novo Tempo Television. In 2025, reports confirmed that millions of people are now studying the Bible through digital platforms created by the Church. "The secret of unity is found in the equality of believers in Christ. The reason for all division, discord, and difference is found in separation from Christ. Christ is the center to which all should be attracted" (Selected Messages, book 1, p.259). The closer we come to Christ, the closer we come to one another. We are one people, one faith, one voice, one hope. We began this journey together, and by the grace of God, we will finish it together. Heaven will not be a collection of individuals; it will be one family reunited forever. About the series From the Heart is a weekly devotional series in which Pastor Köhler reflects on what it means to be grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission, collectively and individually. Each episode is grounded in the four pillars of the Seventh-day Adventist Church strategic plan: Communion with God, Identity in Christ, Unity through the Holy Spirit, and Mission for All. The series connects biblical faith to everyday life, sharing short reflections and glimpses of how God is at work through the Adventist Church around the world. Subscribe and join us each week as we live out our faith and prepare for Jesus's return. – The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 23 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers committed to helping people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/