I’ve been thinking for a few months now about unity and its impact on our lives and relationships. The thought was stimulated by a few scenarios. Firstly, the continuing debate between the Republicans and Democrats, whom are both Americans (from the United States of America). Then, family members who treat one another as each others enemy; family in many cases are the ones there for you almost no matter what, when others give up on you, let you down, put you down, etc. Lastly, people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, yet being divided, is the most amazing to me of all. Christians who hold offense against their brother or sister in Christ or disassociate with another or other Christians for an array of reasons that when it boils down to it are man made or self focused reasons and not pleasing to God.
I have had occasion not to click so well with another Christian brother or sister. However, a part of my maturity in Christ (and I didn’t say perfectly mature, but pressing on toward the mark)has been learning to obey the Word of God regardless of my feelings or human nature (human nature is bent toward sin). That is to honor God and to please Him rather than give any glory to Satan, the devil and enemy of God. I realized years ago that either I am aligning myself with God or with Satan in the way that I live and behave toward others. One Scripture says “Give no place to the devil.” Another says, “Whatever you do, do it to please God and not men, because it is the Lord God who you serve…and Him who will give you your reward.” Actually, Jesus was the one who said “united you stand, but divided you fall.” So, unity is of utmost importance.
Unity is what allows purpose to be fulfilled (it takes more than you to accomplish your purpose for existence). Whether we are talking about the United States of America, family members, or believers in Jesus Christ, the key to our destruction is to allow disunity to operate within us; being divided. This is a great opportunity for “the enemy” to slip in on us and begin the process of kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).
If we do not see and understand this and understand that unity requires that we step out of selfishness and self-focused opinions or decision making, we are bound to experience destruction taking place in our lives and relationships. Allowing pride, anger, offense or other negative emotions to dictate what we will or will not do makes us unbelievers in the power of God or in what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the Cross. This is why it is so important for us to “pick up our cross and die daily.” This means that daily, we must choose to bear the difficulties that have come our way giving them over to the Lord to give us what we need so we can handle them in a godly (Christ-like) manner.
We must be willing to forgive and release people who have hurt us (intentionally or unintentionally), or those who we disagree with on some point or who disagree with us, choosing to go beyond ourselves, loving them with the love of the Lord while praying for God’s divine intervention in the situation and/or in our hearts. God is on the throne and is always watching us, longing to pour more of Himself into us (which is the character, behavior, or attitude we need at the moment). Unity versus disunity will not only affect us externally in our relationships, but also internally, in our souls (mind/thoughts/intellect, will/choices, and feelings/emotions).
Anyway of ours that is not God’s way will not be for our good. As we choose God’s way of doing things and relating to others, we will experience good and see the positive taking place in our lives and relationships.
To end this thought, I plead with you to ask the Lord to show you if you have a wrong relationship (or wrong attitude toward another or others) in operation. As He shows you, repent, forgive, release them and ask for His healing if necessary. If it is possible, go to the person and make amends (you be the better person and be ye reconciled!!). This doesn’t mean that they are right and you are wrong. Nor does it mean that ungodly behavior is being condoned. It means that you are obeying God/following Jesus, not giving place to Satan and God will work it out for good! If it is not possible to go to the person (they may be dead or too mean to approach), know that God hears you and you are okay with Him.
“Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
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