Pursue Unity by Chris Cannon

I was at a retreat recently with many ladies from the ministry in which I am involved. Our focus was on a book titled Until Unity by Francis Chan. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to. The book challenges the reader to examine their heart to see if there are places where God wants to bring change. Disunity in the body of Christ is unacceptable to God. He calls the church to unity-we are the church.

Eph 4:1-6 ESV clearly defines how we, as a child of God, are to live.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Many of us have caused harm to others on our journey to become Christ-like, leading to disunity in the body of Christ. We have, in our actions and our words, hurt our own. We have caused others to leave the church.

We must be accountable for our behavior, ask for forgiveness, and seek God’s direction.

Unity begins with us. Change starts with each believer. It begins with the transformation of our heart attitude. We must allow God to mold our mindset to match His. We must allow God to transform our thinking. This is the first step to unity.

Psalms 19:14 ESV

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

To possess and maintain unity, we must desire to please God in all that we say and do.

Romans 8 “6-8 ESV

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Second, we must be of the same mind and one with our Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

John 17:21-23 ESV

“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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Phil 2:1-2 ESV

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Maintaining unity is a command. It is not a suggestion; it is a commandment. It’s not optional. It is a directive.

John 15:12 ESV

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Col 3:12-14 ESV

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

How can we, after receiving the gift of salvation, not follow God’s word to love one another as He has loved us? We have been gifted with abundant, underserved grace. Let’s respond humbly and live our lives in obedience to His word. We must have God’s heart for others. We must love as He loves. Without unity, it is impossible to love well.

If we want others to know Jesus, we must be better examples of Christ. We have been called to proclaim Christ. The world needs us to be a better model of who Jesus is. If what they see in us is not appealing, how will anyone ever want what we have? Bickering and division in the church are unacceptable. It’s a terrible testimony. Remember, we are the church!

1 John 4:11 ESV

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

 2 Cor 13:11 ESV

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”