Scripture:
John 17:22-23 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Psalm 133:1-3 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head… For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Observation:
It requires glory to be in unity, and unity to receive glory. God’s glory, anointing, and presence is given to those that love God and love people (Matthew 22:36-40). This means those that contend for unity. He bestows His glory on us for this purpose. It is a fight for peace. You are not fighting God or others (Ephesians 6:12). The battle is with your flesh, your selfishness, and with the enemy seeking division. The enemy knows that if he can divide us, there will be no glory, peace, anointing, or presence. We may maintain our profession of faith but lose the power of it (2 Timothy 3:5). The goal is not to be spiritual, but to be one with Christ and to maintain unity in the body. Remember, Jesus said that our greatest tool of evangelism is godly love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) for one another (John 13:35).
Unity gets God’s attention and response. At Babel, people were united against God and He showed up and put an end to it. In Acts 2, the disciples were united in obedience to Christ and the Holy Spirit fell. The church was born from unity (intimacy between God and His people), how much more is unity required to sustain it. If we want to be a glorious church, radiating the love, truth, and power of God, then we must be a united church. We cannot expect the Holy Spirit to come and move while we are endlessly grieving Him with our divisions, gossip, and arguments (Ephesians 4:30-32).
Application:
The call is for selfless, self-denying, flesh-crucifying love. To actually esteem others as better than yourself (Philippians 2:3). To choose love and unity above your feelings, desires, or demands. It means that we walk in forgiveness, even before we have been sinned against. It means that we refuse to become offended. It means we serve one another instead of demanding that we be served (Matthew 20:28). It means we lay down our lives for Christ and to love what He loves – other selfish and broken people.
True love is messy. Not the storybook fantasy, unrealistic romantic love, but the God-centered, others-serving, flesh-crucifying, cross-bearing love of Christ. He got bloody so that we could be clean and live in peace with God and each other. Make unity your aim, for this is true worship that pleases God (Romans 12:1,9-10).
Prayer:
Jesus, I love You. Thank You for today. Help me to die to myself so I can live for You and to carry on Your mission in the world. Let my life be a demonstration of Your love, mercy, grace, and compassion to others around me. Help me to abide in You so that Your fruit may be evident in my life. Help me to forgive, to show mercy, to refuse to be offended, to be gracious and kind. Help me to live and love like You so that there would be unity and Your glory in my life, family, and church. Amen.
Worship: