Unity Is The Only Option

In John 17:11, Jesus prays for His disciples, saying, "Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." This prayer is a powerful reminder of the protection and unity we have in Christ. Jesus knew that His disciples would face challenges in the world, and He prayed for their protection and unity.

Why do we need protection? In John 15:19, Jesus tells us, "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." As followers of Christ, we're called to live differently, and that can sometimes lead to conflict with the world around us.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love superhero and sci-fi movies. I'm a huge Marvel and DC fan, and I love Star Wars. In these stories, characters with special powers, talents, and motivations defeat the forces of evil to win the day. I won't lie. I'm a sucker for that kind of story. However, we rarely see the hero win the battle alone. In the Marvel universe, the Avengers assemble to defeat evil. In DC, the Justice League works as one to bring down anyone who would be a threat to freedom and justice. In Star Wars, the rebel alliance works to bring down the evil galactic empire and bring balance to the force. They had each other's backs, and they worked together to achieve victory. When the stakes are the highest, we need unity to find victory.

Unity is a necessity for the believer. We are incapable of taking on the forces of evil without the support of the big "C" church. The Church is a force for the Kingdom of God. We exist to take on the forces of evil, and we aren't supposed to do that alone. We need to work as a unit. Our common goal should direct our every step. Unity is another key theme in Jesus' prayer. He prays that His disciples may be one, just as He and the Father are one. This unity is not about compromising truth or soft-pedaling our beliefs. It's about being firmly rooted in Christ and His Word.

1 Corinthians 1:10 says, "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."

In order to do the work of the Kingdom of God, unity is a non-negotiable. We can't be effective if we quarrel among ourselves.

In Philippians 2:14-15 we read, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,"

A.W. Tozer once said, "Has it ever occurred to you that 100 pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?" Our unity comes from being tuned to Christ, not to each other. When we focus on Him, we find true unity.

This unity is essential for our mission to make disciples. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives us the Great Commission, saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Our unity in Christ empowers us to carry out His mission.

Take a step back today and ask yourself, "Am I united with the body of Christ? Am I carrying out the mission that we are called to do in making disciples?" We have one job. Let's do it well, and let's do it together.