What does it mean to be devoted in unity?

Rebuilding the wall under the leadership of Nehemiah is one of the best example for unity found in the Bible.

In Nehemiah 4:15-23 (NASB), we see how the Israelites built the wall. Some of them stood guard as the others rebuilt the wall.

In verses 16-18 , we read half of the servants carried on the work, while half of them held spears, bows, shields and breastplate.

In verse 20 we read that when they worked with unity and stood together to rebuild the wall, they said “Our God will fight for us”.

Why should we be devoted in unity?

In 1 Corinthians 1:10 , Paul urges the people in the Corinthian church to not cause any division. Unity in the body of Christ is very important.

John 17:23 says, " I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."

Jesus desires perfect unity with us and within ourselves.

Going back to 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 , Paul says Christ was not divided.

If Christ was not divided, how can we divide ourselves saying I am of this person, or of this nationality or so on and so forth?

Christ paid a price for our salvation - the precious, spotless blood of Christ was shed for each one of us, regardless of who we are.

Knowing that we were all baptised into Christ, how can we be divided?

When we consider an assemblage of 10 people, it is uncommon to find all 10 people to get along together. There are and will be a multitude of differences between them.

In Colossians 3:13-14 Paul says, “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

We need to put on love to form the bond of unity. Without love we cannot be united. Love bears all things and lets us put our differences aside. Christ loved us putting our transgressions aside.

In Matthew 22:37-39 , ' And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

If we love God with all our hearts we will be able to love our neighbours as ourselves. When we love our neighbours as ourselves we will be able to be united.

In Acts 2:44-45 we read, 'And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.'

The first disciples began to share things with each other. When there is unity we will be able to share things which other. We need to be devoted to being united.

Psalm 133:1 says, “ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!”

Isn’t it beautiful to see people living together in unity and sharing things? We need to be united to show God to this world.

'No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.' (1 John 4:12)

How can we be devoted to unity?

We need to realise the price Jesus had to pay to unite us and make us one.

'And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high' (Hebrews 1:3)

When we think a God this Holy and filled with glory gave His life for us, it makes us want to reciprocate it by obeying His commands.

Galatians 3:28, 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.'

Paul is urging the churches in Galatia the need to be united in Christ. We need to seek the fullness of the unity creating Spirit.

“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

Seek to be led by the Spirit and to bear the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18, 22–23) for these are the cogs in the wheels of love. If you are a stranger to the Holy Spirit, you will care little for the unity he builds.

John 13:34-35 , "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We need to love one another so we can show God to the people around us and through this they may all become followers of Jesus.

1 John 4:10-12 , 'In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.'

By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. We need to love another.

Let us work together and be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)

TO GOD BE THE GLORY