Until We All Reach Unity

Friday - April 16th

Scripture to Read Today: Ephesians 4:11-16

---

...To equip his people for works of service,

so that the body of Christ may be built up

until we all reach unity in the faith

and in the knowledge of the Son of God

and become mature, attaining to the

whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12-13

Pastor and author Francis Chan released a new book recently titled "Until Unity." He addresses the importance of pursuing oneness within the Body of Christ. The title of Chan's book comes from Ephesians 4:13 that says, "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God." He stresses the importance of using our gifts, building each other up in the Lord, and pursuing unity together no matter what would seem to divide us - until unity!

The isolation, political divide, and deep racial tensions of this past year have made unity among believers challenging. Strong views on COVID-19 and the lockdowns, masks, and vaccines associated with the pandemic have created formidable hurdles for oneness in the Body of Christ. Yet, God's Word says we should make every effort to pursue such oneness until we all reach unity. Our pursuit should be focused on unity in the faith and the knowledge of God's Son - not just agreement and harmony around anything good thing or any Christian concept.

Chan says it well in "Until Unity" when he says:

"It will always be easier to seek out the people whose interests and affiliations most closely resemble your own—people whose life experiences resonate with yours and inform your choices and passions in similar ways. It will always be easier to write off those with whom your personality or opinions clash. But there is something so beautiful and powerful about a group of incredibly diverse people uniting under a common banner. It shows the world that our common obsession with the worth of our King is more powerful than any social, political, cultural, or economic divide. It shows them a picture of Heaven. Don't let your pride get in the way of that picture." (Quote in this Take5 comes from "Until Unity" by Francis Chan: https://a.co/jgopqnR)

There are many good things we as Christians can unite around, but THE One around Whom we are to unite is Jesus Christ. We need to have one cause - knowing Him and making Him known.

Confess any area of life that has caused you to bring division among the Body of Christ. Confess any pockets of pride that have ultimately hurt your brothers and sisters in Jesus. Commit afresh to make every effort to pursue unity in the Lord with other followers of Jesus!

We are to fight for unity within the church. We are to make every possible effort to secure peace with other believers!