January 25th, 2023 - Unity in the Body
Unity in the Body
PAUSE
It is evident, in these days, that the Spirit is at work in our hearts both as individuals and as a Church body. As we consider what He might be calling us to today, take a few moments to make room for Him to speak. Take a long deep breath. Breathe in. Breathe out.
In the slowness of the moment consider what keeps you from being fully united with the body of Christ. Ask the Spirit to bring to mind any hurts or hindrances from your past that are affecting your present participation in and among His people. Take a moment to ask Him to help you surrender those thoughts and to use you
Father, Son, and Spirit. Please come and teach us to live the life you have called us to today.
REFLECT:
Today we consider the practice of living in unity that God has called us to. As we reflect on what it looks like to live in unity with one another, let’s consider the words of Paul to the Church of Ephesus in Ephesians 4
“ Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ”
Paul’s charge to the church of Ephesus is to “ lead a life worthy of your calling”. He then details what this worthy walk looks like. Interestingly, the worthy walk of a follower of Jesus is not one that is walked alone. It is actually one that is uniquely united and bonded to other followers of Jesus. His Church.
It is evident in Paul’s message that this united worthy walk with one another is messy and challenging as it requires great amounts of humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness. It is a walk that demands every effort. Unity requires the work of peace on our part, and always motivated by love.
But let’s be honest. Hurt is real and we are too often hurt by the people we are supposed to be united with. This is what often keeps us from the type of unity God has called us too.. A fear of being hurt by broken people. The reality though is we too are broken and completely capable of inflicting the same hurt on others. When we can see and understand our own brokenness, only then can we walk in God’s grace, and practice the kind of patience and humility required of us towards others.
The Father, The Son, and The Spirit have been united in oneness for all eternity. So it stands to reason that God would design and call His church to display this kind of oneness and unity for the world to witness what God is like. The 3 persons of the Holy trinity work in tandem to accomplish the mission of God. Therefore, God's family should be united and work in tandem to accomplish God's mission for His church to see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.
To close I think the rest of the words of Paul in verses 4-6 in the message translation sum up the goal and purpose of living in unity.
4-6 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
ASK
The goal of unity and oneness is to put on display the unity and oneness of God.
Consider what hinders you from living in complete unity within the body of Christ.
Is there a hurt you need to forgive?
Are there people you might have hurt that you need to seek forgiveness?
Possibly it’s time to commit to joining a small group.
YIELD
As we close, consider right now how God is calling you to live in unity with other believers. Surrender any hurt or unforgiveness you might have towards fellow believers and ask Him to help you to make every effort to live in the unity of the Spirit and peace with His Church.
Lord, help us to live a life worthy of your calling today. Help us to learn how to walk in peace and unity with one another so the world around us would know what you are like.
It is evident, in these days, that the Spirit is at work in our hearts both as individuals and as a Church body. As we consider what He might be calling us to today, take a few moments to make room for Him to speak. Take a long deep breath. Breathe in. Breathe out.
In the slowness of the moment consider what keeps you from being fully united with the body of Christ. Ask the Spirit to bring to mind any hurts or hindrances from your past that are affecting your present participation in and among His people. Take a moment to ask Him to help you surrender those thoughts and to use you
Father, Son, and Spirit. Please come and teach us to live the life you have called us to today.
REFLECT:
Today we consider the practice of living in unity that God has called us to. As we reflect on what it looks like to live in unity with one another, let’s consider the words of Paul to the Church of Ephesus in Ephesians 4
“ Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ”
Paul’s charge to the church of Ephesus is to “ lead a life worthy of your calling”. He then details what this worthy walk looks like. Interestingly, the worthy walk of a follower of Jesus is not one that is walked alone. It is actually one that is uniquely united and bonded to other followers of Jesus. His Church.
It is evident in Paul’s message that this united worthy walk with one another is messy and challenging as it requires great amounts of humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness. It is a walk that demands every effort. Unity requires the work of peace on our part, and always motivated by love.
But let’s be honest. Hurt is real and we are too often hurt by the people we are supposed to be united with. This is what often keeps us from the type of unity God has called us too.. A fear of being hurt by broken people. The reality though is we too are broken and completely capable of inflicting the same hurt on others. When we can see and understand our own brokenness, only then can we walk in God’s grace, and practice the kind of patience and humility required of us towards others.
The Father, The Son, and The Spirit have been united in oneness for all eternity. So it stands to reason that God would design and call His church to display this kind of oneness and unity for the world to witness what God is like. The 3 persons of the Holy trinity work in tandem to accomplish the mission of God. Therefore, God's family should be united and work in tandem to accomplish God's mission for His church to see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.
To close I think the rest of the words of Paul in verses 4-6 in the message translation sum up the goal and purpose of living in unity.
4-6 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
ASK
The goal of unity and oneness is to put on display the unity and oneness of God.
Consider what hinders you from living in complete unity within the body of Christ.
Is there a hurt you need to forgive?
Are there people you might have hurt that you need to seek forgiveness?
Possibly it’s time to commit to joining a small group.
YIELD
As we close, consider right now how God is calling you to live in unity with other believers. Surrender any hurt or unforgiveness you might have towards fellow believers and ask Him to help you to make every effort to live in the unity of the Spirit and peace with His Church.
Lord, help us to live a life worthy of your calling today. Help us to learn how to walk in peace and unity with one another so the world around us would know what you are like.
Posted in 2023 Prayer and Fasting
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January
January 9th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 10th, 2023 - The Burning BushJanuary 11th, 2023 - Strong and Courageous January 12th, 2023 - Obediently Set ApartJanuary 13th, 2023 - Faithful Among Enemy NationsJanuary 14th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 16th, 2023 - Be StillJanuary 17th, 2023 - God Inhabits His PraisesJanuary 18th, 2023 - Enjoying God's PresenceJanuary 19th, 2023 - Broken & Contrite HeartJanuary 20th, 2023 - Asking for OthersJanuary 21st, 2023 - Petition and ProvisionJanuary 23rd, 2023 - One Body, Many PartsJanuary 24th, 2023 - Love One AnotherJanuary 25th, 2023 - Unity in the BodyJanuary 26th, 2023 - Consider Others BetterJanuary 27th, 2023 - Living in the LightJanuary 28th, 2023 - Don't Let Anger Control YouJanuary 30, 2023 - The Power of FastingJanuary 31st, 2023 - Pray as You Can
February
February 1st, 2023 - ScriptureFebruary 2nd, 2023 - Sabbath Day, Best DayFebruary 3rd, 2023 - SimplicityFebruary 4th, 2023 - WorshipFebruary 6th, 2023 - Love Your NeighborFebruary 7th, 2023 - Come and See, Go and TellFebruary 8th, 2023 - GenerosityFebruary 9th, 2023 - Caring for the VulnerableFebruary 10, 2023 - HospitalityFebruary 11th, 2023 - Build
2022
January
Covid UpdateDay 1 - Is It Worth It?Day 2 - God Promises His PresenceDay 3 - Aligning Ourselves With GodDay 4 - The Voice of the ShepherdVision 2022 - Begins this Sunday!Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?Day 6 - "By the Grace of God"Day 7 - A Day for Rest and WorshipDay 8 - Ask Boldly and Surrender CompletelyDay 9 - Our Deliverance for His GloryDay 10 - Ask for the ImpossibleDay 11 - Adversity Meets Unwavering FaithWhat an incredible start to 2022!!Day 12 - Focus Reveals FaithDay 13 - Impossible Mission!Day 15 - Followers of JesusDay 16 - The Good News of God’s LoveDay 17 - Radical Love Leads People to JesusLet's Try this Again...Day 18 - Relentless CommitmentDay 19 - Unending Power SourceDay 20 - Come and See, Go and TellDay 22 - Many Parts, One BodyDay 23 - A New Command - Love One AnotherDay 24 - One Body and One LordDay 25 - Be Angry, But Do Not SinDo you Belong?Day 26 - The Commandment of LoveDay 27 - The Attitude and Obedience of Christ
March
Day 1 - Seeking the Lord TogetherDay 2 - Ash WednesdayDay 3 - The Baptism of JesusDay 4 - The Word as a WeaponDay 5 - Freedom in ConfessionDay 6 - Love Your EnemiesDay 7 - Anxious for NothingDay 8 - Effective PrayerDay 9 - Amazing FaithDay 10 - The Bleeding WomanDay 11 - Confidence in GodDay 12 - Fear Not!Day 13 - Come and RestDay 14 - Kingdom Minded CommunityDay 15 - The TreasureDay 16 - Peace in His PresenceDay 17 - Raise the RoofDay 18 - A Parent's CommitmentDay 19 - Too Good to be TrueDay 20 - Only JesusDay 21 - The Ninety-Nine and the OneDay 22 - Salvation Through SurrenderDay 23 - Good Rest from a Good ShepherdDay 24 - Read the RoomDay 25 - A Fruitful FaithDay 26 - The Wedding FeastDay 27 - Serve Like Jesus