Unity In The Body Of Christ

Ephesians (4:1-13)
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions. He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians (4:4-6)
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.



We can be united in the purpose of serving Christ, without being uniform in all the details'. The Bible does not call for the uniformity of all believers, but rather teaches the 'unity of all believers'. The fact that others are not with us does not necessarily mean they are against us'. As growing Christians we need to clearly see what Jesus did not say, as well as what He did say". The Lord was not indicating that as long as people oppose us, they are on our side no matter what they do or believe. He was teaching that those who are involved in good works in the name of Christ are not against us but rather for us even though they may not be in complete agreement between their denomination and our denomination. It is easier to respond more appropriately if we recognise that people will sometimes be emotionally volatile. Knowing that conflict is inevitable we must have a peaceful presence. We may not be able to control the response of others, but we can determine before hand that we are going to live a 'Spirit controlled life! Emotional intelligence God calls wisdom".

Our Father, what a great privilege we have been provided by Your amazing grace, that You are making us one together with such a wide and diverse group of people! Thank You for "the mystery" now being made known to Your people, how You have drawn together Jew and Gentile all into one body, to be unified in the family over which Christ is Master and Head. We find great comfort in that because as our Master, Jesus will safeguard us, will care for us, will treat us honorably. Thank You for Your tender mercies, Your compassions that are new every morning.
We find great joy, Lord, in being a body of Your people brought together for transformation and service. We come with various colors and backgrounds and struggles and sins. We stand on a level plane at the foot of the cross. May our unity with other believers be so palpable, our fellowship so genuine, and our hearts so winsome and warm that people without Christ are irresistibly drawn to Your Son, whom we love and adore. In whose name we pray. Amen.
Do you realize how closely unity and humility are tied together? One breeds the other; neither can exist without the other. They're like Siamese twins, perpetually connected.

Personally, I have seen numerous occasions when pride won out (even though it was never called that) and harmony faded away and I mean fast.
Contrary to the stuff you might read today, the words, fight and quarrel, are not apt descriptions of the way to get ahead. They won't ultimately glorify God.
Friends are made by not fighting and by refusing to quarrel.
Commit yourself to freeing others so they can grow and discover on their own. For a change, as much as is possible, walk away from an argument rather than inviting one. Become more of a peacemaker.
Rev William Bowers