Unity in the Lord

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Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Devotion:

            Paul writing in this scripture passage is calling the church to radical unity. In our society there are so many divisions in the body of Christ it is impossible to see how we could be united about anything. However, we know that Jesus himself prayed for the unity of believers. If Jesus thought that unity was possible and desirable then we can, as members of the church, seek to become united with our brothers and sisters in the Lord regardless of how different we may be from one another.

            As our world moves farther and farther away from God and the church, we must be more united than ever. When times are good, and the worship of God has become socially acceptable. It may not matter that we divide and then divide again. However, when the world turns its back on God then we must stand together, or we will fall alone. It does seem on the surface that some of the differences among us may be too large to ignore. We must seek to learn how we can repair those ruptures without compromising faith in the One who is over all, through all, and in all.

            The world today has turned its back on God and the church. Our witness, as a body of Christ, has been compromised by doctrinal and moral failure. We have been handed defeat after defeat by the dark trinity. The world, the flesh, and the devil have done their best to see the church moved farther and farther to the margins of our society. We have great difficulties in reaching the world with the love of Christ because we are so tangled up with our own problems and feelings of inadequacy for the task.

            Paul calls us to rise above our faults and failures. He tells us to be united in the hope we have for salvation in Jesus Christ. We must remember that we are called by God into His church and not merely into our denomination. In heaven, there will be no denominations, no national, or racial differences between believers who have been found worthy to enter heaven’s gates. All God’s children will be at peace, all our nagging questions, insecurities, and doubts forever banished by the presence of our Lord. Let us unite in rejoicing that we will all be one in the Lord, forever.

Prayer:

            Lord God Almighty, we come before you with praise. Heal our divisions and hypocrisies. Help us to remember that you do not see the people you have called out of the world according to their denominational affiliation, but you see us as saved by the blood of your Son Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. We rejoice in the fact of your steadfast love for people created in your image. You will not let us suffer for all eternity. We, as your church, are rescued and are destined for eternal union with you in heaven for this we give you thanks and praise. Amen. 

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