United we stand, divided we fall! God will not bless disunity.
Jesus declared: “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand”, Mark 3:24-25.
Unity can be an act of my will, first to the Lord, choosing to be one with His mind, and also to others. When my view and opinion of a situation finds a disagreement with my fellow men, I do not have to adopt a disagreeable attitude. I can still choose to demonstrate a gracious attitude while maintaining my view without a heated argument. My view may be right, but if I maintain it with a wrong attitude, then I am upholding truth unrighteously. In this position I fall out with my fellow men, fall into judgement of others in my pride and lose God’s peace. Woe is me, I’ve lost the plot! My choices and actions in handling the situation wrongly have resulted in disunity. Moreover, my greatest concern should be, not what others think of me, but how I have displeased my heavenly Father. The only way back to get on track once more is to walk in humility. No matter how right I think I may be, I can easily cause eruptions with a wrong attitude resulting in destroyed relationships. God resists the proud, (1 Peter 5:5), but gives grace to the humble. If I do not want God to resist me, which happens when He withdraws His peace, it is my responsibility to humble myself and repent to the Lord, asking His forgiveness, then also my fellow men. There is a place where I can disagree with others, without being disagreeable.
Jesus gave us a divine plumb line, a divine spirit level in John 13: 34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By THIS shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another”.
Jesus did not say His disciples would be known for their great works, but by the love they showed to each other.
Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Find the common ground of allowing others a different view or opinion. Be open to change if you are wrong, and if proved right, stay humble and be gracious with others.
Psalm 133 “Behold! How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments. As the dew of Hermon, as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore”. We find God’s blessing in unity.
Mount Hermon referenced in this psalm has the highest peak. The moisture in the dew that descends refreshes and revitalises the dry places below. We also know that in our bodies, created by God, there is a fluid called synovial fluid which lubricates all the joints, preventing friction. These analogies remind us of the Holy Spirit in our lives, prompting and guiding us to allow the life of Jesus free reign and rule in our hearts. A surrendered vessel, fit for purpose for the Master’s use, will receive the oil of the Holy Spirit to enable one to be a functioning part of the Body of Christ, holding and submitting to Jesus, the Head, and to each other. In this position, there will be no friction or disunity among the many membered body, united in Christ.
Ephesians 4:15-16 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, who is the head, even Christ. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love”.
As I maintain that oneness with the Father, my birthright in Christ, then I will walk in unity with my fellow men, and the day star of Christ Jesus will bring light and understanding as I journey in fellowship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit, dwelling in unity, abiding in their presence.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash