Recently, I was discussing the concept of unity with some people. What is unity? The Apostle Paul, in the book of Philippians, tells us it means to be like-minded. He addresses the believers in Philippi and encourages them to "be like-minded, having the same love, being on in spirit and purpose" (Phil. 2:2).
In our individualistic society, unity and like-mindedness might seem like uniformity, but they are different. Uniformity relates to acting and looking the same. Unity is not loving the same thing but having the same love--Jesus' love. It involves humility. (Humility is an accurate assessment of ourselves--see Putting On Humility.) The secret to living in unity is to not seek our own interest, nor to pursue a selfish advantage and not to seek our own glory.
According to Jesus, unity is the outward demonstration of being a Christian. It ought to exemplify and define us. Unity is the essence of the Christian life because it is the display of a living God at work in our individual lives. How are we doing?
Living in unity takes effort. The Apostle Paul tells the Ephesian believers (and us) to, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Keeping the unity is hard work. It requires acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, humility and love.
Don't despair, there is hope! Jesus prayed for us to have unity:
"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believed that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23
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