Looking for unity?

Unity is becoming a rare commodity. It seems a spirit of dissension and strife is growing among believers and in our churches. This goes against God’s word, grieves the Holy Spirit, creates division, and weakens our Testimony for Christ. How can we avoid or replace this attitude?

Here are three simple steps:

1.  Together in our differences. Respect and accept differences as long as they do not go against God’s word. We are all uniquely created by Divine design, with diverse backgrounds and experiences. If we have Christ as our Savior, then we are all sinners saved by His grace. Accept one another and respect differences without judgment or criticism. Practice godly love, which rejects partiality, gossip, or unkind words. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Ph. 2:3 KJV).

2.  Target the right purpose. God has the same goal for each of us. “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Is. 43:7 KJV). Our goal is to bring honor and glory to Him, not to ourselves. We are His ambassadors, and we should let His life shine through us. Too often, our purpose drifts toward what we want, and our efforts focus on achieving it. This can easily lead to conflict with others. Let us keep our focus on Christ and His will for our lives. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1Cor. 10:31 KJV).

3.  Triumph in this spiritual battle. We are chosen as soldiers for the Lord. We all have the same enemy, the same armor and weapons, and divine power available. Let’s not fight each other, but in unity, support and strengthen one another. Together we stand, divided we fall. Our enemy, Satan, knows this is true. That’s one reason he works hard to create strife and division. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4:29 KJV).

I want to encourage each of us to embrace these three points.  Think about where our thoughts are and what we say. Let us sincerely pray, asking God to help us pursue unity instead of division and destruction.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1Cor. 1:10 KJV).