An Uncommon Unity

My heart is encouraged after Sunday. I am confident that God is speaking to our fellowship and that we will move forward. I hope that you will take the time to listen to this past Sunday's sermon, if you were not here this past week. I do believe that it was some 'family time' we truly needed to have. I hope it is helpful. It has helped me to be hopeful.

I want to dream Jesus' dream for the church. It is not enough for us to merely 'get along'. The New Testament speaks of a unique 'oneness'. Jesus prayed for "those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
(John 17:20-21 ESV)

This prayer for unity is profound. I am more convinced than ever that it is the disunity of the body of Christ that prevents the blessing of God. The tragedy is the fact that many people don't care enough about 'the blessing of God' to be overly concerned. In the past, I have counted the cost of unity, and the cost was too great for me to pay.

My opinions are more important.
My preferences are more important.
My tastes are more important.

Yet, I am not sure that there is much of anything more important to Jesus. The reason I believe this is because of what Jesus also says here:

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:35 ESV)

The world must know. The epitome of selfishness has to be the prioritization of my opinions and preferences and tastes over souls damned to hell - and me not care an ounce about it. Jesus weeps. So should his people. We should weep over our own callousness. We should repent with our tears. We will have to be intentional in our relationships.

Once again, Paul's word to the Ephesian church: We must be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
(Ephesians 4:3 ESV)

Oh God, may we eagerly seek such unity.