Understanding Unity in Christ

The 4th of July is an opportunity for the citizens of the United States to stand as one, in unity and celebrate the founding of our nation.

We as believers must recognize God's work in us to stand as one body, not individuals, to "celebrate" His foundation in us.

Ephesians 1:8-10 "8 With all wisdom and understanding,9 He made known to us

the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ,

10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment-to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."

I just came from having an early morning cup of coffee with a brother in Christ. He is involved with a ministry providing Biblical discipleship to men. We discussed the need for unity in the body of Christ to allow continuity in ministry.

In public safety, there exists a presence of competition among departments. This competition should not come in the way when there is a need for unity to perform a task. But sometimes, unfortunately,  it does. Without unity, we cannot see the value in one another. We each individually  cannot be everything to everyone. We need "mutual aid". We are each a part of the whole.  

There is the awareness in public safety of the need to come together as a "body" to perform the individual responsibilities and disciplines "as one" to accomplish a goal; to protect the lives and property of those we serve. The competitiveness seems to dissipate when needs like this come.

The opportunity to serve together at one time in continuity is in those moments that bring great need among a community. Needs such as natural disasters or other large events. Those events are not the time to start working together as one. Each entity must come together before the disaster in order to practice efficient delegation of authority, communication, and use of each other's resources to properly assess, negotiate, and rid the hazard. The Church must work on the same principle.

Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 1:1, Ephesians 4:1-3,13, Colossians 3:14) to the church to emphasize the need to live as one. He understood that quarrels among those who follow Christ could and would divide them. Division creates weakness. Weakness provides opportunity for immobility. Satan loves to use this to bring confusion and conquer those who are weak in their faith making them useless.
 

What are you doing in your walk to allow God to prepare you to be dispatched, to serve those who need you and He who is in you to help negotiate the "disasters" of their lives? Do you exercise your faith to keep you strong in Him? Do you study the scripture to seek God's truths? Has your walk with Christ prepared you to understand the value of being unified in Him?

 

Pray for unity in the body of Christ.  We must first have the desire to work together in order for the practice to occur.