This week, most of the churches in our community are coming together at the high school football stadium for ONE worship service. It’s a beautiful picture of our unity in Christ.
In Ephesians 4:4-6 the Apostle Paul tells us: “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.”
I love that we can put aside our theological differences as churches and come together as one body of Christ in unity. I believe this unity is vital because it reflects the very nature of our triune God. We serve one Lord, believe in one faith, and are baptized into one body. We have been called to one hope and have one God who is above all and through all. Our unity bears witness to our community the truth of the Gospel, the power of God’s love, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Jesus Himself emphasized the significance of unity among His followers. In His prayer found in John 17: 20-21, He prayed, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me”
Jesus desired our unity so much that He prayed for it the night before His crucifixion. He understood that our unity not only strengthens the body of Christ but also serves as a compelling testimony to the world. Our unity in Christ displays His love, truth, and redemptive power, drawing others to believe in Him.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of unity in the body of Christ. Help us to walk in humility, gentleness, and love, fostering an atmosphere of unity. Let us pursue reconciliation and forgiveness, laying aside pride and embracing Your loving grace for all. May our lives and relationships reflect the unity we have in You, pointing others to the truth of the Gospel (the Good News), which is this: that the sacrifice of Jesus reconciled us all to You and in His Name alone, by the unifying work of the Holy Spirit, we come together as one Church. Amen.
thesimplemindedpastor.com 