OK – it’s been awhile so I thought I’d jump back in with something that became clear to me while working on the sermon for last week……. Unity is natural (in the spiritual realm). If you want the Scriptural reference for what I’m about to babble about, it is Ephesians 4: 1-16.
The first hint to this fact was in verse 3 which is “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”. This statement not only assumes unity as the starting point that takes effort to keep, but the unity is natural when rooted in the Holy Spirit.
From here, Paul addresses many foundations that those who are in Christ have that should bring unity including that there is “one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, through all, and in all” that have accepted Jesus as leader and forgiver in their lives. If you (assuming you are a Christian) have one Triune God who has one purpose and dwells within us, then what cause so much division within the “one body”?
James 4: 1-3 poses this question “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” If you are a Christian and you are struggling with another Christian…. If you are in a church that is divided and fighting…… then someone (or maybe even everyone involved) is not submitting to the Holy Spirit. When we do, unity is natural even if we have different ways of looking at things.
Maybe it’s time to step back….take a second look…..spend some time in prayer…. and take a new stab at unity. You should be making every effort.
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