Unity

There's so much to be said about unity within the body of Christ. God desires unity is so many areas of our lives. He desires to be united in a relationship with Him, He desires unity amongst His children, He desires unity in marriages and families and friendships. He Himself is part of the greatest union ever; the Trinity. And because unity is at the very heart of who God is, the enemy will try to thwart that unity any way he can. He will make people believe things they shouldn't, he'll drive wedges between people over the smallest things and just cause a lack of unity in the body. Paul warns us not to be ignorant of satan's devices "...lest satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices..." 2 Corinthians 2:11

Disunity is one of satan's biggest devices within the body. If he can take people's focus off of the Lord and onto the problems they have with other people; he's accomplished his mission. There's a saying, "If the enemy can't destroy, he'll distract you." And that's what we have so much of these days... distracted Christians! Distracted by what the world has to offer, many Christians lose out on the unity they could enjoy in the body of Christ.

One of the girls in the Bible College shared a devotion on this verse yesterday and it spoke volumes to me:

"I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, eandeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all."

We have been called to unity and when we're not walking in unity to God's Spirit and with our fellow brothers and sisters... we've lost the plot. And we cannot walk in unity with God if we are walking in disunity with a fellow brother or sister. "...for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" 1 John 4:20

The hardest aspect of ministry is often just maintaining relationships with the people around you. And that's where satan often attacks hardest... at the core of our relationships. Our relationships are the closest things to our hearts and so if he can jeopradise them, he can jeopradise our hearts and that ultimately affects our relationship with the Lord. (All things stem from the heart. Proverbs 4:23)

God help me to walk in unity with You and with my fellow brothers and sisters. May I walk cirucmspectly, being aware of satan's devices but focusing my eyes on You Jesus, the bringer of all unity.