Unity in ChristSample

The pursuit of unity

Christian unity is desired and commanded by Christ (John 13:34), attracts the favour of God, and is fiercely debated by God’s people. Let’s take a practical look at the subject.

Romans 14 and 15 provide us with instructions under the general headings of the Law of Liberty and the Law of Love (NKJV) in relationship to our different attitudes to proper food and proper times of worship, often a cause for disunity. In this passage above, the servant we’re criticising or judging is actually a servant of God, a fellow believer whose practices differ from ours. And so, by implication, in our disunity we’re judging both them and God.

Here there are 36 verses of insight to consider Christian unity that are clear but somewhat complicated. The key to understanding and working out practical unity is to ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate His Word to us (especially these verses) and to humbly submit ourselves to Him and to our conscience to work them through.

The proof that we’re achieving God’s will for unity lies in how close we become to fulfilling this verse – ‘Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another’ – Romans 14:19 (NKJV). Can I ask you to join me in encouraging all fellow believers in their Christian walk, asking God to empower them and us to serve Him fully and faithfully. After all, He is both their and our Master, to whom we must eventually give an account of our actions (Romans 14:12).

Written by JOHN SCOTT