by Mr. Francis D'Souza
One of the greatest Blessings of the Resurrection is Unity.
The disciples were about to return to their old way of living because their hopes were “shattered” with the death of Jesus. But once they had an encounter with the risen Lord they stayed back for good and were joined in unity.
This subject becomes even more important when we consider the last prayer of Jesus found in John 17:
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
The Holy Trinity is the best example of UNITY.
The subject of unity is expressed in the Old Testament in
Psalms 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Paul speaks of this in his letter to the Romans 12:4,5
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
The theme of unity however is most strongly brought out in the Acts of the Apostles 4:32
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Like Charity, Revival, and Peace, Unity too is not “outside in” but “inside out”.
We are familiar with the sayings – “United we stand, Divided we fall” AND “Unity is not uniformity”:
The results of Unity are :
(i) our lives are enriched;
(ii) the Church experiences growth; and
(iii) our witness is enhanced.
Unity can be fostered in the following ways:
• By being an Encourager
To encourage means to exhort, comfort, stimulate edify, build up, support…
There is a story told about a scout who finished first in an obstacle race leaving all his competitors far behind. His Superior asked him where his colleagues were. He replied, “I have won and they are far behind.”. The Superior told him that the race was all about finishing and not winning “ALL FINISH OR NOBODY WINS”. Go back and start the race all over and help your buddies along the way.
Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians 2:4 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews in 10:24,25 also admonishes us to be encouragers by using the word provoke
24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. 25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:…..
Also refer to 1 Thessalonians 5:11 & Romans 12:18. We are not here to compete but to complement. We are part of one another (Jigsaw Puzzle).
We certainly need each other because without the other we will be incomplete.
We should also consider how to appreciate one another and compliment (not flatter) which means we must not tear down but build up one another.
Get into the act of catching people do the right things
We must be like “sandhill cranes” who operate on the following principles –
(i) rotate leadership
(ii) handle turbulence
(iii) honk encouragement
Endeavour to be a “BARNABAS” which means ‘Son of Encouragement’ (Act 4:36)
The spirit of encouragement sparks off a chain reaction and, in this atmosphere Unity will grow.
• By being a Reconciler
The main causes for the break in unity are unforgiveness, misunderstanding, and imposing nature; hence only way unity can be restored is by initiating the process of reconciliation. The vertical reconciliation has been achieved by Jesus by his death on the cross (Romans 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The horizontal aspect has to be worked out by us through our action as commanded by Jesus in Matthew 5:23,24 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Reconciliation is greater than the sacred duties).
We need to be delivered of our EGO (Edging God Out). This calls for breaking the cycle of continued justification of “no unity” situation and make peace and restore the unity. All this will be possible if we humbly come before God seeking his grace and strength. Our prayer to help us out of this situation should be ‘Jesus make us like You (Father, forgive them…..)’
It is also suggested that the ‘warring’ parties sit and honestly answer the question, “How am I responsible for the disunity?”
Unity will be knocking at the door.
• By being a worshipper
People try to be united in various ways. Parties, picnics, get-togethers etc. seems okay but not all. We must remember that unity is not uniformity. We need to look at the Trinity if we want the best lesson in unity. As we focus on God we will be transformed because as 2Cor 5:17 tells us ‘if anyone is joined to Christ he is a new creation the old has gone away and the new has taken its place.’ When we worship we are united; not only with the people with whom we worship but with all those who worship around the world, even with the ones who have died and gone before us and what is more is that we are united with the elders, martyrs and angels in heaven. Hebrews 12:22-24 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
We all are referring to the same Bible, using the same praises, and worshiping the same Lord.
Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned not to each other but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipper together each one ‘looking at Christ’ (Worshiping is beholding Christ) are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity-conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. .
To Have Harmony With Other Believers,
We Must Be In Tune With Christ
The Closer We Come To Christ,
The Closer We Will Come To One Another.
AMEN…..