Unite Together, Friday March 4, 2011

Reading: Romans 15:5-7 - 5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

It’s amazing that immediately following 9-11, America seemed to be one voice in saying “United We Stand”. Bumper stickers, Billboards, and signs were all over declaring this unity. Yet, here we are today. A country that seems to be constantly divided about legal, moral, philosophical and/or racial issues was once so unified in its determination and resolve to avenge 9-11 victims.
Why is that? We had a common enemy and a common purpose.

Too often we tend to war with each other within our churches and denominations. We lose site of our “common enemy” and our “common purpose”. We tend to focus on our differences, instead of focusing on our similarities in Christ. Part of the struggle is a little deeper than that, though, because part of the reason that we lose site of our “common enemy” is simply we are not at war. Men, the spiritual war does not have deployments, tour of duties or even a military leave. The spiritual war is a constant. There is a camaraderie amongst those who are fighting together. This is why Paul makes a point to mention endurance and encouragement, right before unity to remind the Romans that God give endurance and encouragement to keep going, to keep fighting. He then reminds them of the “common purpose” to “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Who do you not feel unified with today?


What “common purpose” do you share and how will you show that today?


Challenge: Just as God has given endurance and encouragement, actively pursue unity today. Let those who are fighting together against the Devil and the world, encourage each other and support each other today.

REVIEW

How did you encourage your fellow warriors today?


How did you have a greater sense of unity today in “common enemy” and “common purpose”?