Though it had only been a short time since Paul founded the church in Corinth, discord and differences of opinion had already raised its ugly head among the people. Satan had moved quickly to bring confusion and dis-unity. We must stay on our guard, because Satan will bring action in the opposite direction to discourage all good work.
Paul is calling us to "be perfectly united in mind and thought". For perfection to pervade in us, we must abide in Christ. In Ephesians 4:23, we are encouraged to "be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness".
Before we look at how to bring unity in Christ, let's look at some things that bring dis-unity in Christ's church. We must take time to consider what needs to be defeated in our lives:
1. Unrepented sins
2. Unforgiving hearts
3. Personal greed and selfishness, not just financially, but with our time and our willingness to serve
4. Interpretation of God's word for selfish purposes
5. Worrying about another person's heart, rather than our own
6. Critical heart, judgment, condemnation
On the "other side of the coin" of life, how do we achieve unity in Christ?
Live the command of Christ to "love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.. and to love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37 and 39.
One example is being willing to look out for each other as the Israelites did in Nehemiah 4:15-23.
By abiding IN HIM we create chains of unbreakable relationships through an atmosphere of TOTAL trust where there is no condemnation, judgment, no lying or deceit.
We are back to Romans 12:1 as we "offer your bodies as living sacrifices (dying to self daily), holy and pleasing to God.." In this place of surrender we give thanksgiving to God for ALL things... having a humble/contrite spirit so that we can be conformed to the mind of Christ.
Lord, may we daily submit ourselves to Your perfect will, with the knowledge that You have your "good, pleasing, and perfect will" in mind for Your children.
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