| Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Study |
"Unity in the Body of Christ is beautiful. It is pleasing to God and brings joy to those who experience it. But how can we achieve unity in a world where people tend to only look out for themselves? It begins with seeking God's desire for our relationships, which goes beyond our own intent and expectations.
In order to live in unity with others, someone has to be willing to sacrifice their feelings and desires for the sake of living in harmony. When we seek peace, rather than always having to have our own way, we are demonstrating that unity is a priority.
When there is unity, people experience a kind of joy that goes beyond feeling happy. It's a feeling in our soul that things are good and right. It's a result of the unity that has taken place--everyone is on the same team, with the same purpose, wanting to accomplish the same goals."
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Unity takes work and effort. It never just happens. Christian unity occurs when people come together, and their only purpose is to worship God. It means that we forgive others, instead of holding onto a grudge and harboring hard feelings. We sacrifice what we want for the sake of the whole group.
A disunified group of Christians speaks to the world--but not in the right way. It conveys the message, "We can't get along with each other, so there probably isn't much hope that we will get along with you." It mars the image of the Church and hurts its witness. Where there is disunity, God's blessing and His Spirit cannot abide among His people.
Unity should be our priority. And it is only accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. What can we sacrifice today to obtain unity with other believers?
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