Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

I think what Paul is trying to communicate here is that as Christ followers we are operating in a different, elevated zone. I think back to coaching my oldest son's baseball team as asst. coach. He was around 10 or 11. The team hadn’t really won very many games all year. It was a hodgepodge of kids who were still developing. But we tried to stay positive, encourage them, and help them to gain confidence.

And then they won their second game all season on the last game of the season. Then they won the first game of the tournament against a top team. They had improved dramatically and were playing together as a team. Each taking his role on the field and playing it as well as they could, also supporting and encouraging each other. We measured and tracked quality at-bats. Our dugout was loud and cheering for each player.

This is what Paul is talking about here. He is saying, “I am no longer a member of these sinful groups of people, worldly people groups that compete against each other and do not honor God. Instead, I am on the team of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. That is my identity! These are my brothers and sisters in Christ! They belong to me through Jesus’ redemption power. And I belong to them. We are teammates; and all differences, weaknesses, scars, and fears are not as important as this oneness. I can look past those and see the potential greatness of those around me. I can CELEBRATE OTHERS’ GREATNESS!!! And I can encourage and enable spiritual greatness in my fellow Christ-followers.”

Lord, transform my heart and mind once again today to see and celebrate the greatness in others. And to share my abilities and skills, my resources and connections with them for their success and encouragement! I have a team of brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, and they are the ones I am called to be a blessing to and serve!