God places a high value on unity.

Unity in families. Unity in marriage. Unity in the church.

Is it any wonder the enemy destroys unity wherever he can? That families, marriages, and the church are constantly under attack? Matthew wrote, “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.’” (Matthew 12:25 NIV)

Scripture uses several word pictures to describe unity:

• Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)
• Building (Ephesians 2:19-22)
• Field (1 Corinthians 3:9)
• Flock (John 10:16)

Think of what each of these looks like when it is unhealthy or has been compromised:

• The Body suffers. (1 Corinthians 12:21, 26)
• The Building falls. (Psalm 137:7)
• The Field fills with weeds. (Matthew 13:25)
• The Flock scatters and wolves ravage it. (John 10:12)

Check out Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-23:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (Emphasis mine.)

Unity points an unbelieving world to Christ. Unity also brings the church to maturity and fullness in the faith.

Because God places a high value on unity, we should too. The strategy of divide and conquer works only if we willingly divide. Click To Tweet

What body part, what building block, what patch of earth, what sheep needs your attention?

Workout of the Week: United We Stand

Memory Verse: “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.’” Matthew 12:25

Meditation Passage: Choose a word picture above.

Just Do It: Stand together.