UNITY! or YOU-INTY!
Sunday’s Monday
Not sure why God woke me up with this thought, this morning but I strongly felt Him filling my head with words. The understanding behind the term is one that humans often twist, modify, or deliberately misuse to give them control. We all too often live a me-ology life where we speak one way and live another, such as deity becomes me-ity ( where we expect people to recognize our divine status, quality, and nature); or unity becomes you-inty. Unity in dictionary.com reads, the state of being one; oneness; a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one. Which is great and biblical, until it becomes you-inty, with you trying to become the one that everything revolves around. How did we get this so wrong? We are told in Matthew 23:8 (NLT), “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. Get off your stump and live the scriptures you’ve been ranting about!
“Our” idea of unity doesn’t seem to have changed from what it was in the days when Jesus walked this planet. I hear a lot of unity talk in meetings, at lunches, and other functions I attend and it is obvious that it is uncomfortable for some, but necessary for all. As many of you may know, I’m a talker, but I am also a good listener when others talk and I keep noticing some of the people that are supposedly in unity keep consistently pulling people toward believing more like them. Such people are usually speaking of God’s unity, with the mindset of you-inty. It is important to remember, this is my assessment of what I hear mingled in their words. They long to be the head of the group (or body as it may be), the me-ity (if you will), as they strive to sway people into thinking as they do. Sadly, this thinking seems to work when applied to the weak within God’s followers. We find in Philippians 2:2 (NLT), Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. The Holy Spirit loves us enough to direct us as we should go.
Verse 2 is where many of us stop reading and exploit our incomplete knowledge, in doing God’s work. This has us written all over it! We have just enough information to make this all about us in God’s name. Our human understanding of verse 2 screams “My understanding is best; you should think as I think.” Look where it says one mind, people desire it to be their mind as they have a superior understanding of the bible. However, in verse 5 of Philippians 2: (NLT), You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Please, read all of Philippians 2: to gain insight into how Jesus explains His meaning of Unity. I learned that it is not and never has been about me, it all has to be about Him! He is the goal; His ways are to be my ways and I am to seek His mind. None of these statements allow me to be first or make me any smarter than the rest. 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NLT), For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. Or as it is written in Isaiah 40:13 (NLT), Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? It is important to be humble enough to be teachable and smart enough to seek the right teachings. If you’re always trying to sway others to believe as you do, you’re likely missing a lot of what you have to learn!
Greetings Abba; I come before you praising your holy name because you chose us to be your own, I sing of thanksgiving because you’ve given me a place in your heart and I joyfully tell you all of the great sacrifices you made for us. Lord fill our lives with more of you! Father help us all to believe and live out Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT), 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Help us grow in unity believing you are the head we are to serve. Keep us humble, teachable, and willing to serve you in serving humanity. Amen
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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