UNITED

One day when I get married, I have already pre-decided that I want (Ps 34:3) printed on something!! haha 

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.- Ps 34:3

Because, as long as I can remember thats what I have desired. To simply run the race the Lord has set before me and at some point to look over and have my hand taken by the man who is God's best for me, and hear words similar to these, "this is the direction I feel God is taking me & I would like you to join me on that journey. 'Come, lets tell of the Lord's greatness, let us exalt His name TOGETHER.'" Call me a helpless romantic. He may not say those exact words, but you get the idea and what I desire. Unity! One Heart. One Mine. UNITED for HIS FAME!

Marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church. It's meant to be the Gospel on display. So not only  do I desire (Ps 34:3) for my future marriage one day, but I desire it for my life now. That I would come along side my fellow believers and say, "lets to this thing together!" Making disciples. I desire to see unity in the body of Christ. That we would get over ourselves long enough to take each other's hands and work together, UNITED for His glory. Getting over ourselves long enough to look over and invite people along the journey. 

Oh the things the Lord would do if we would come together in unity! 

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Eph 3:20

Reading through 1 Corinthians tonight I came to a verse I had highlighted and a few words just jumped out at me. In (1 Cor 1:10) it says, “I appeal to you, dear brother and sister, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no division in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”

There is a similar verse in (Philip 2:2) "Then make me truly happy, by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working TOGETHER with ONE mind and purpose."

See any similarities?

The Apostle Paul wrote both 1 Corinthians and Philippians.

In 1 Corinthians, the first of two letters he wrote to the church in Corinth. While Paul was in Ephesus, he got several reports about the church in Corinth that concerned him. Corinth was a very cosmopolitan city, with rampant corruption, idolatry, and immorality. It was a difficult place for a Christian to live, and the young believers there had many questions about what it meant to live for Christ. When Paul heard of their troubles, he wrote them this letter to address their problems, heal their divisions, and answer their questions.

In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Like a frustrated coach watching his team bicker on the court, Paul called for a time-out. He saw the danger of division and arguments. The Corinthian believers’ lack of unity was obvious. They may have been playing in the same “uniform” but they were doing as much as the opposition to bring about their own defeat. The problems weren’t so much differences of opinions as divided allegiances. They were arguing over which position on the team was most important in a way that made them ineffective as a unit. They were on the field, but out of the game.

We see Paul facing a similar issue with the church in Philippi.  Many people—even Christians—live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. But selfishness brings discord. Paul therefore stressed spiritual unity., asking the Philippians to love one another and to be one in spirit and purpose. When we work together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ’s example of putting others first, and we experience unity. Don’t be so concerned about making a good impression or meeting your own needs that you strain relationships in God’s family.

That word UNITED means: harmony, connected, in alliance, agreement, Concerned with, produced by, or resulting from mutual action.

At the end of the day coming under ONE name for ONE purpose! I about freaked out when the Lord brought Galatians 3:26-28 to mind, and I looked it up in the (NLT)

Galatians 3:26-28,  “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

WHAT WORD DO YOU SEE!?!?!

UNITED! 

I think Paul is trying to make a point! Unity is important. Not only in the local church, but between us as fellow believers. 

1)    We are UNITED by the simple fact that everyone who has put their faith in Jesus Christ for Salvation, we are all a new creation. We are united in that! We are all ONE in Christ! I love (Galatians 3:29) that says, “and now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” We are UNITED in this! We are all heirs! True Children of God!

2)    We need to be UNITED in our thoughts, our actions, our purpose, and our hearts. It’s easy to get so caught up in wanting to do “our own thing” that we lose sight of what it’s really all about. It’s all about sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples.

a.) In (1 Corinthians 1:10) Paul is talking about a unity of the mind; having the same goal. Like the example of a team given earlier, if everyone has a different goal in mind, and everyone is trying to achieve their goal there is going to be division. Nothing will get accomplished & everyone leaves frustrated. Everyone needs to be on the same page, playing their part, and working as a team with ONE goal! The SAME goal!

b.) Then in (Phillip 2:2) its similar, but its more about being selfless unity. Still being of the same heart and mind. Having the same purpose. Working in harmony, but remembering that it’s not all about you. To work at a team you can’t make it all about you! Humility plays a big part in unity. 

                UNITED IN IDENTITY, UNITED IN PURPOSE, UNITED FOR HIS GLORY!