"How can two walk together unless they be agreed" - Amos 3:3
Yesterday, I wrote about spiritual oneness between the husband and wife. How it is God-ordained and spiritually enabled. The key being that both the husband and the wife are submitted to the Spirit of God and devoted primarily and fully to God the Father, which in turn, is the foundation for their devotion to one another. Seems pretty straightforward wouldn't you say? But as one reader commented - "It is not easy."
What makes it not easy? In short it is our flesh - our natural selves. We want what we want and if God tells us something different - we struggle. We error when we start to think of our spiritual life as being an alternative - like my guitar - which, at the moment is out of tune and gathering dust - but I tell myself that can pick it up anytime I choose - but I choose not to. It's then same as when we set the Spirit and obedience aside because yielding to the Spirit will get in the way our life's pursuits and preferences. When God tells me that I must go and do something that is contrary to what I want - I balk and make excuses about why it is not such a good idea - maybe later, which means probably never.
Well that was yesterday and this is today. The same principles that apply to Christian husbands and wives apply to all Christians who are spiritually related - sons and daughters of God. For things to be right between them - they must also be in spiritual agreement. The problem is that the flesh very often gets in the way of oneness between Christians. That is not God's intent.
“I [Jesus] do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." - John 17:20-23
Jesus prayed that Christians would be one just like Jesus and the Father were one. For us, that is made possible only by the Spirit of God. Our oneness is a testimony to the world. Oneness that knows no natural bounds like race, nationality, skin color, natural culture traditions, economics, even Christian denomination. Those are all powerful influences on how the natural man relates to others preventing oneness or unity. Oneness is an impossibility for the natural man. The best he can do is form an alliance - which is a relationship or collaboration forged by common interests - perhaps a common enemy. And when the common interest dissolves - so does the alliance. (By the way, I believe that is why so many marriages fail) Not so with spiritual oneness - it is a holy alliance that has interests that are eternal - they never dissolve - that is so long as we remain submitted to the Spirit of God and devoted primarily to God the Father.
"A new commandment I [Jesus] give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34-35
And how did Jesus love us? He laid His life down for us. Sacrificial - Agape - love.
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." - John 15:13
It is possible for us to achieve Oneness only when we love God the most and others more than ourselves. Both - at the same time - and the result is oneness. That is what is missing in the Body of Christ. Why our witness is so diluted in this dark hour. Letting the world see the power of One. When we are truly One, our light to the world, instead of being a candle in the window would be like a lighthouse on a dark and stormy night.
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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