As our loving Father, God doesn't enjoy seeing division and strife between His children either.
In Proverbs 6, God gives us a list of things He hates and that are an abomination before Him. Included in that list is "he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19).
God requires us, as His children, members of the body of Christ, to be "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
What is "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"? The answer is found in Ephesians 2 where it outlines something the blood of Christ accomplished for us. Take a look:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
When believers in the Lord Jesus Christ don't get along, we are nullifying the effect of His sacrifice in our lives. He came to bring those who were "afar off" together. He Himself is our peace, who broke down the walls of separation. Jesus came to reconcile us and preached peace to us. And, through Him, we all have equal access to the Father.
Without using words, we are effectively saying Christ's sacrifice was not enough when believers choose division over "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
We're not talking about condoning sin or heresy. We're talking about the bond we have as believers in Christ by the blood of Christ. That is an eternal bond, held together by the Holy Spirit.
The majority of divisions in the body today are caused by things that matter little in light of eternity. One glaring example is translations. My preferred translation is really of significance only to me. Yet, some believers will not fellowship with others who carry a Bible with a different label than their own.
Neither the KJV, nor the ESV, nor the NIV, nor any other versions have the power to save or condemn. My sin separated me from God and condemned me. The blood of Christ paid the price for my salvation, not any English translation of His Word.
Regardless of whether modern or archaic language is used in the translated text, the Holy Spirit is more than able to use the Word of God to open our eyes "that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Ephesians 1:17-19).
There are many other little things that we choose to allow to divide the body of Christ today. For some, its the label of the door of the church. For others, its clothing or music.
God sent His only Son to bring us peace - peace with Him and peace with one another as members of Christ's body (see Ephesians 2:13-15). Unity in the body is not an optional activity. We are required to be "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3).
Real unity in Christ transcends labels, versions, worship styles and any other differences and is a shining testimony of what Christ has done.
He broke down the walls between us. Let's not put them back up again.
Live in unity.
{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.
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