We’re now a month into the new year and decade, which brings a lot of reflection even if you aren’t someone who makes resolutions. Most of us stopped for a moment and examined things in the past that we want to continue or change for the future. In thinking over these things, a theme on my heart has been Unity. Not the kind of unity that rallies us behind a specific sports team or fandom, but true God-ordained Unity in the Kingdom.
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
-Psalms 133:1
True unity is a powerful force. I’m reminded of a story of Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Calvary Regiment, at the Battle of la Drang in Vietnam. He said this about soldiers: “American Soldiers don’t fight for what some President says on TV, they don’t fight for Mom, Apple Pie, or the American Flag, they fight for one another.” Oh, how good and pleasant it would be for us to view our Christian walk the same as soldiers, and to fight for one another and stand in unity.
Other words for unity would be agreement, and togetherness. In Matthew 18:19-20 it says “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” This agreement is like when many instruments of all types and sounds come together. This symphony creates something powerful: Harmony. Togetherness and agreement of that level brings peace to every situation.
Togetherness means the mission is more important than your hidden motives.
So how then do we bring about this same kind of unity in our lives? The answer is easy, yet one of the hardest things for us. It means putting aside our personal motives and intentions, even noble ones, for the sake of the bigger Kingdom picture. Unlocking the power of unity has a high price of putting aside ourselves and putting emphasis on the mission.
This doesn’t mean you will never see your individual dreams come to pass. If anything, walking in true unity, obeying God’s will, unlocks blessings and favor that your own will and way never could. A perfect example of this is Abraham when the Lord asked him to offer up his son (Genesis 22). His son was the treasure of his life and the embodiment of all his hopes and dreams. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice the most precious thing he had, out of obedience to the Lord, proved his faithfulness. In the last moment, the Lord provided a ram to be offered instead. When we are willing to let go of how we think it should be, or let go of having things our way, the Lord provides and releases blessing and favor.
It’s about Kingdom
One of the hardest things in Kingdom work can be putting aside what we think it should be, or how it should be done. When we have a call on our lives it’s easy to get caught up in looking for our own opportunities to move or change things around us. That passion for the Kingdom is good, but only when we look beyond ourselves and at the bigger picture.
Kingdom focus stretches beyond individual platforms, churches, denominations, and regions. The first challenge to us as followers of Jesus is to find where we are called, then come alongside those around us in pursuit of seeing the world changed for Christ. When we are “as one” and functioning as a healthy body, then we are powerful to advance the Kingdom of God on the earth.
The enemy likes to trick us into thinking that we are better off alone. Another lie is, if we aren’t immediately plugged in where we think we should be, then we must be in the wrong place. Those lies create a constant culture of ministry hopping and leave us feeling empty and weak. There is power in putting aside personal agendas and choosing to move in unity, no matter what it looks like for us.
We must recognize that we are part of the family of God. He is the one who calls and moves us into the family, or body, He chooses. The word “family” takes away the idea that “lone ranger” Christianity will suffice in the last days. Family is more than a warm word; it represents so much more. Family is meant to be a safe place, a place of refreshing and strength through common bonds and goals. Being a family means recognizing each other’s strengths and watching each other’s backs.
My hope for us in 2020 and beyond is for our focus to switch from being individuals to being part of the family and body of Christ. Let’s be planted where God calls us to be and to function in unity with those alongside us. Let’s move forward as a family fighting for each other in the pursuit of the Kingdom of God in all things.
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:5-7
P.S. You can read more about the importance of unity and agreement in the book I wrote with my father — The Power of Agreement. Get your copy in paperback or Kindle today.