One In Christ

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

The Church is a fellowship. A top priority in a fellowship is unity and harmony. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3, NIV). Therefore any attitude that causes disunity among us is sin. The Bible has many verses instructing us on the need for unity:

1. Don’t allow contention and strife among us (Prov. 17:14).
2. A new commandment to love one another (John 13:34).
3. Be knitted together in love (Col. 2:2).
4. Avoid foolish comments that confuse other people (2 Tim. 2:23).

But how can believers of different personalities, backgrounds and cultures come together in unity? The unity that we can truly have is unity which can be found in Christ. Jesus unites brethren everywhere by His work on the cross. We are united because of our salvation in Christ. We are all saved by grace through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross (Gal. 3:24-29). Jesus offers the opportunity for believers everywhere to draw near to Him and eat with Him (John 21:12). We are invited to a holy intimacy and union with Jesus. And the “food” that we partake together when we come to the Lord’s table is Jesus Himself. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (6:35). “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (6:56). So the Lord calls us to the same table, the Lord’s table, and we partake of the same bread—the Bread of Life.

Christians may differ on a variety of points, but we all have one spiritual appetite. If we cannot all feel alike, we can all feed alike on the Bread of Life sent down from heaven. At the table of fellowship with Jesus, we share one bread and one cup. As the cup goes around, we share in the same grace of God and we pledge our love and unity to one another heartily.

Get nearer to Jesus, and you will find yourself linked more and more in spirit to all who are like yourself, supported by the same heavenly manna. If we were closer to Jesus, we would be closer to one another. And Psalm 133:2-3 continues, “It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forevermore.” It is at the table of the Lord when we have drawn near to Him, that the anointing—our source of strength—flows into our lives. And there God commands His blessing upon us. Have you labored under much unnecessary weakness because you have neglected coming before the Lord? Grace and strength comes from nearness to Jesus, union with Jesus and love for His people.