Unity and Love

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
1 Corinthians 1:10

Life very rarely turns out the way that we had planned. I never would have imagined that I would have been on as many military bases as I have. I certainly have not been on as many as those of you that have served our Country, thank you for your service, but I have been on a few in the last few years.  When our son graduated from Basic Training we went to Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri to see him. A couple of years later when he was stationed in Germany, we went over to visit him and got to walk around the base. A few weeks back he was moved to Ft. Bliss, Texas and I drove down with him and got to tour the base. The one thing that I have noticed about being on an Army base is the sense of pride. Men and women walk around with their heads held high. Their wear the American flag on their sleeves with honor, and soldiers speak to each other in passing. You can sense that people want to be there. They realize that they are all working together for one purpose. They are proud to be Americans and are just as proud to serve their great Nation.  They realize that they have a Commander in Chief that supports them and their purpose.

As I was thinking about it, this is the way we should feel every time we walk in our Churches.  We should be glad to be there. There should be a sense of unity. Our heads should be held high as we serve and worship. There should be a sense of pride that we are there working together for one purpose. We should realize that Jesus Christ is our Commander In Chief and He loves and died for the Church. The church should be the most unified and loving place on the face of this Earth.

Here in 1 Corinthians, Paul is dealing with issues in the church. Word has gotten to him that there are quarrels in the church (v.11). Imagine that. Paul says this can’t be! Christ is not divided is He? The body of Christ is to be one in unity and love.  He is urging the church to get along for the sake of the Gospel.  Why does unity matter in the church? Why should we love each other and work together? Jesus Himself answered that question. “ I in them and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:23

Jesus tells us that the reason that unity and love are so important in a church is because this shows the truth of the Gospel. It shows the unconditional love that God has for us and that we are to have for each other. When you get to church tomorrow, hold your head high, be happy to be there, love and serve with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Too much is at stake not to.