Before Jesus was arrested and crucified on a cross in order to pay the price for the sins of humanity, He prayed to God the Father. During this time, did you know that one of the things He prayed for was future believers? That includes you and me. He prayed that future believers, the church, would be unified. Clearly, Jesus understood the importance of unity among the church, and it must be important to us today, too.
Christ followers are called to unity in Ephesians 4. In this passage of Scripture, the apostle Paul instructed readers, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (verse 3). Notice that Paul did not simply say, “keep yourselves united in the Spirit.” He said, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit” (verse 3). Paul instructed followers of Christ to do everything they could to be unified. He called them to strive for unity.
Why is unity so important? Unity is important because unity makes the church strong. Paul wrote about the importance of unity in 1 Corinthians 12. In this passage of Scripture, Paul refers to the church as the “body of Christ” (verse 12). This metaphor, which compares the church to a body helps us understand why unity is important. You see, we are all part of the body of Christ. That means we each play a vital role in the body of Christ. When we are not unified, the entire body of Christ feels the impact.
How can you specifically help to preserve the unity of the church? Maybe you can refrain from saying negative words and commit to saying encouraging words instead. Maybe you can choose to help serve in the church. However you are able, commit to helping preserve the unity of the church today and ask God to help you as you seek to do this.
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.
