Get It Together

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

Psalm 133:1

Unity is not just nice if you can get it; it is essential to God’s work on the earth. It is central to his redemptive wooing of the lost world: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).

Unity is so rare that it stands as proof of the power of God at work: “May God . . . help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).

Since God values unity so highly and it is so necessary to show the world proof of his presence in our lives, then clearly unity becomes a target for the enemy. His schemes will be directed at relationships, through which he seeks to destroy unity.

How well are his schemes working in your life? Are you holding a grudge? Is there someone who can always offend you? What has created a split between you and another person? Do you insist that everyone in your sphere of influence share your opinion or risk being ostracized?

I think the enemy succeeds at diluting our unity because, most of the time, maintaining or restoring unity requires humility. We are called on to lay aside our pet peeves and to allow someone else to have the last word.

Preserving unity in the bond of peace means we have to die to our fleshly pride. But that death will produce life. When we lay aside the pride that infects our relationships with one another, the kind of unity only God can produce accomplishes what he has in mind.

Father, show me where my pride is cooperating with the enemy’s schemes, and instead, help me be a peacemaker.

God cares nothing about our man-made divisions and groups and is not interested in our self-righteous, hair-splitting, and religious, man-made formulas and organizations. He wants you to recognize the unity of the body of Christ.

M. R. Dehaan(1891–1965), American Bible teacher