I am here to talk to you today about working together in Unity. We as brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ need to realize that we are one people with one purpose, to share the love of Jesus with the world and to glorify him. To many times in the body of Christ, believers and Christians tear each other down. Whether it be gossip, rumors, talking down to or about one another does no good, but just causes strife, pain, and hurt emotionally and spiritually. Sure we may have our differences in style, age, personality etc. but that does not give us the excuse to patronize one another. We as believers may be part of different denominations, but the truth is, there are born again Jesus followers in most likely every one of them. Some of us may “know” more than others, some of us may be better servants than others, some of us may be baby Christians and some of us may be mature Christians. My whole point is that we as a universal body of believers need to, forgive me for the cliche, need to just get a long more. What do you think could happen if believers came together to spread the love of Jesus, rather than wasting their time trying to tear each other down. I think a lot more would be accomplished for the cause of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26 “12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 ” As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Romans 14:19 “So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
My challenge to you today is to look for the good in people. Look for the good in your fellow believers. Remember that they are your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and how you treat them is how you treat him. Yes you may have messed up and treated people horribly in life up until now, but God is a God of forgiveness and mercy. Confess it to him and repent and begin to turn your life around. He wants you to, don’t feel so ashamed that you think you can’t go to him for his love and mercy are far more than we can imagine. Treat others well!
Jon Rouse 