United We Stand

Have you enjoyed an orchestra performance? All the musicians have their instruments tuned and when they all play in harmony, its just magic. Even if one instrument is out of tune, then its not pleasant. It is exactly the same in the church. Each member is unique but there is an underlying unity brought about by the one Spirit who is in all of us.
I Cor 12:12,13
¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

When there is disunity, there is discord and this can rob us of peace, joy and blessing in our life and havoc our relationships. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that he was concerned for them because he could see a lot of problems that arose from disunity.
2 Cor 12:20
²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
We need to realise that despite our differences, we are all part of the same body of Christ. If we believe in the death and resurrection of Christ, we share a oneness in the Spirit and we should remember this in our interactions with one another and with the world.

When each of us are tuned to Christ, then we will automatically be tuned to one another. When we humble ourselves just like Christ did and esteem one another, we will not give in to selfish interests or be prideful but will maintain unity.
Philippians 2:1-4
¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

When we realise that Christ died for each one of us and that each of are baptised by the same Spirit into one body, then we will strive to ensure that our differences of opinion do not hinder us from being unified with each other. We may not see eye to eye on everything with fellow believers but we do not allow petty differences to destroy our unity. Our unity and love for one another should mark us as His followers. There is strength in unity when we set aside our pride and come alongside in love to serve one another. When we are united, we reflect Christ better to one another and to the world. Ultimately, unity reflects God’s own character and we glorify Him.

I love this quote by Francis Schaeffer, “It is in the midst of a difference that we have our golden opportunity. When everything is going well and we are all standing around in a nice little circle, there is not much to be seen by the world. But when we come to the place where there is a real difference, and we exhibit uncompromised principles but at the same time observable love, then there is something that the world can see, something they can use to judge that these really are Christians, and that Jesus has indeed been sent by the Father.”

How are your relationships? Are they marked by unity or would you have to admit that you need restoration? Is there observable love in your relationships even when there are points of real difference? Confess any pride and selfishness that destroys unity. Let us strive together to be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, and one mind so that we are one united body in Christ.
Psalm 133:1
¹ How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!