Unity. Being united. Being of one mind. No division. These are all things we think of when we hear the word unity. But is there more? Are we even seeing unity today?
Ephesians 4:1-6 NASB
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
As we look at this scripture, we see everything about God is ONE. We serve a God of one body, one Spirit, on Lord, one faith, on baptism, on God. Wow! Now that is unity. But . . . . there are many churches around. Just to name a few: Baptist, Methodist, Free Methodist, Presbyterian, Assembly of God, Church of God, Church of Christ . . . I could go on and on. And within each of those there are subdivisions. What has happened to the unity in the church? Why can we not agree? Why can we not be as Christ prayed?
John 17:20-23 NASB
20 "I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me.
This is why I don't care what denomination you are part of and I don't reveal where I go. We are to be in unity. I have always said, we all need to get back to the basics. So what are the basics? Jesus was born of a virgin girl, lived a life as a human so He could understand all the temptations we go through, was flogged for our sicknesses, died on a cross for our sin, rose again from the dead three days later, and then ascended to Heaven. We all need to get back to that, the the bickering back and forth between denominations can stop. The divisions among churches can stop. One thing that really breaks my heart is when people try to cause divisions just because they don't like the minister. We are NOT to "touch" God's anointed. We are to lift them up in prayer.
Jesus prayed for unity, so I would say that is what God is wanting, and I can surmise that He is very unhappy with what has been going on within the church community.
Self Examination
Let us look at ourselves. Are we partaking of gossip that is going on about someone or something within your own church community? Are you partaking part of a division? All I can say is STOP! God wants unity. He is a God of ONE. Let us get back to the basics.
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