I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)
Series: Perfected in Unity
I love you. These three words are often used to express our deepest emotion to someone we hold dear to us. They are the words I cherish when my husband whispers them to me before we drift off to sleep. They are the last words I text my daughters (who live a thousand miles away) at the end of each day. This simple gesture signifies we are connected to each other. Because whether we live in the same house doesn’t change this. I love my people and I am grateful they love me.
There is another family I treasure deeply. I haven’t met all the members, but I will someday. We don’t all have the same last name, job titles, or even hobbies. But there is one very important similarity: we all love Jesus and call Him our Savior. We belong to the family of God, the body of Christ. When we love Jesus, there are certain truths we cling to. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 that Jesus is the head of the church. This encompasses all who call upon Him for salvation and forgiveness of sins.
Although there are many churches, we are bound to God and to one another by the Gospel. We have a common purpose—to do things Jesus’ way. Placing Him at the center of our life ensures our connection as His church to stay strong and life-giving. Without Him as our focus, how would the world know we are His disciples?
Jesus spoke these words in John 13:34-35:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV)
The instruction by Jesus to His disciples, in His last days of ministry on earth, was to be united in love. In turn, we are to love each other and that is how others will know we are His disciples. Seems pretty simple doesn’t it? But it is not always the case. I have never been more saddened than when I have witnessed the children of God give up those special relationships because the address of their church changes. If this doesn’t make us stop and think about the grace of God, I don’t know what will. We are to extend His love, mercy, and grace in this world. To do this, we must reflect it.
I once heard a Pastor use the phrase, “we are not in gangs” when encouraging the congregation to stay connected and loving to those who moved to a new church or were perhaps from a different denomination. How incredible would that be? In times when God moves us or shifts us to a new city, or a new church, the gospel should be what holds us together and links us in unity.
We learn so much from the Apostle Paul. He wrote so many messages of encouragement to the various churches, most often from a prison cell. These letters opened with this unified greeting:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2 ESV)
Do we greet our brothers and sisters in Christ in this same manner? Extending our sincere love, gentleness, and grace the way Jesus did? Are we encouraging the body of Christ to understand the truth of the gospel, build one another up, and remember each other in prayer? Paul says in Ephesians 4:30-32:
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Goodness, Paul, that is a tall order! But so important if we want to honor the Lord in our churches. As Christians, we want others to feel the love we have for God and from God, believe the truth of God, and to spread the Good News of the gospel. We cannot be double minded while serving the Lord.
May each of us examine our own thoughts, actions, words, and attitudes. And may we walk in a manner that honors and glorifies God in His church. And finally, may “I love you,” be on our lips and in our hearts as we serve our church and others—just like Jesus.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 1:10; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 4