2 Chronicles 30:12
“The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.”
God gives the blessing of unity when we are walking in His will.
God charges us to be unified. I Corinthians 1:10 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
Unity happens when God’s love is present. Looking at the fulfillment of the Corinthian verse is challenging. “That we all agree” is much to ask. I’ve heard a phrase that helps, “In essentials, unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.” We should be unified in doctrine. There is plenty that isn’t. In those things there should be liberty. The last line is the best, “in all things charity”.
I Perter 4:8 says, “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” This love is more than a feeling. It can be at times, but it’s much deeper. It starts in Matthew 16:24, ‘Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me”‘. Love denies one’s self. It’s often a sacrifice.
Most of this love comes from God. The first fruit of the Spirit is love. To love is a command that is only possible with God. I think of the suggestion in Matthew 18:21,22, ‘Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times.”‘ This is love beyond reason and human ability. God is needed for this kind of love.
Reconnecting to our topic of unity, love is integral. We as people have many irritations. Love lets those go. This is important for unity. Otherwise there would be snide comments here and there. Those would be contagious and would feed on themselves and build momentum. Love rides above them. Some of those may arise, but loving, mature people would love them away.
The middle part of that quote mentioned “in non-essentials, liberty”. Mature believers don’t bring those up. They know in them are stumbling blocks. I Corinthians 10:29 says, “the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own. For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?” In the bible this was meet offered to idols or worshipping on particular days and so on. Today it’s many things. Drinking wine, going to movies concerts and more. This verse says to keep those things quiet. It promotes unity.
To finish up, the first part of that quote said, “In essentials unity”. All of the christian doctrine is to be kept and defended. If a church abandons those like many churches today, we should leave. God may have us there as a missionary, otherwise we should leave.
Lord, thank You for unity in the church. Help us to do our part by loving.