Ps. 133:1 (NIV)
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in UNITY!”
Out of nearly 8 billion people, there are no two human beings that are alike, not even identical twins. God made each of us unique. We have different likes/dislikes, different personalities, different opinions/viewpoints, and different goals, just to name a few. These differences can make us stronger or weaker.
Even though our differences are not few and far between, we share a common ground as believers, our ONEness in Christ. Instead of focusing on our differences, we can build on what matters the most as believers, ONEness. As followers of Christ, we all have:
- ONE GOD and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all (Eph. 4:6 NLT) – As our Creator and Father, God is at work in the life of every believer.
- ONE Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world not to condemn the world, but to save (Jn. 3:17 NIV). God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21 KJV)
- ONE Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who gives us access to the Father and guides us into all truth (Eph. 2:18, Jn. 14:26)
- ONE Faith, faith in Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. Christ lives in us. (Gal. 2:20)
- ONE Baptism, and through baptism, we died and were buried with Christ. And as Christ was raised from the dead, we will also walk in newness of life, by God’s glorious power (Rom. 6:4 CEV, NLT)
- ONE Great Commission to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone (Mk. 16:15 NLT). We are all appointed to tell others about God’s Kingdom and plan of salvation.
- ONE Hope to stand holy and blameless in His presence. When Christ, who is our Life appears, then shall we appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:4, NLT)
When we celebrate our ONEness, we will make every effort to do what leads to peace, love and edification. Nothing will be done for selfish ambitions and vain glory (Phil. 2:3). All will be done for the glory of God who made us ONE in Him. And Love is the binding force that holds unity together.
We must love fervently; bearing, forbearing, and forgiving one another (I Pet. 4:8). Hearts of humility will enable us to be patient, gentle, kind, and merciful with others. And when we are tempted in allowing differences to divide us, let us zoom in on the unchangeable truths of our ONEness.