THE SOURCE OF UNITY
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NLT)
I remember years ago, I was exhausted. Ever been there? I happened to be at the beach, and I remember taking a walk. I wasn’t necessarily looking for God to speak in a profound way; I just was walking, praying and trying to focus my mind on Him. I remember looking at the waves, and He said to me, if you go out there and stand against the waves after a while, your strength will fail, and if you go into the world in your strength, you will fail. This word might perhaps be one of the most powerful words God has spoken into my life. The point is simple: we need a greater source than ourselves to live out our faith. If you live by your strength, you will eventually fail. Life is too hard, problems are too big, the world is too hostile, and the challenges are too great. But the good news is that you have the ultimate power source, who will strengthen you daily.
Notice the verse above: how do we live a life worthy of our calling? Look at verse 3: keep yourselves united in the Spirit. You can do verse 2 without verse
3. You can be humble and gentle. You can't be patient with each other in your own strength. When we are united with the Spirit, when He is our power source, we can face all the problems and stings of the world and not lose our unity. We must remember that true and lasting unity is from above. The world gives the appearance of unity, and sure, people are united on certain issues, but that isn’t the picture of biblical unity. Biblical unity means even in the hurts, the annoyances, the disagreements, and differing opinions, we can be unified by a greater source, the Spirit. The world says if you don’t agree with me, then it’s hate. The Bible says we can disagree with each other and still have unity and love for each other. The world’s source of unity isn’t strong enough to overcome the differences and disagreements. True unity comes from above. To live a life of unity and love, even in disagreements, we need a greater source, and that greater source is Jesus.
APPLICATION:
Stay in step with the Spirit and His power today.
PRAYER:
Ask the Spirit if there is anywhere you are operating in your own strength and not the power of the Spirit. Release that to God and trust Him.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?