Unity

Guest Post 

There is strength in Numbers; in togetherness. The great thing about this season is that it brings people together. 

I remember watching The World Cup when I was younger, I really didn’t care about football but for some reason I got into football for that period; It was great having family and friends around and everyone rooting for the same team. The excitement in the room when we all unanimously screamed “GOAL”!!

Something similar happened with the Nativity Story. Mary had just given birth, her and her husband finally settled in a manger somewhere not too far from the fields where some sheep and their shepherds lay.

And so an angel appeared to the Shepherds and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” – Luke 2:10-12

Immediately after, There was a host of Angels who had gathered around and were praising God. The shepherd also went to see the new born King. Wise men came to see Jesus too. All of a sudden, people from nowhere were coming round to see one Child, Christ – the sole unifying factor for all!  

Like the excitement that The World cup brought, the birth of Christ was also to bring Great Joy to ALL, not just for the year of His birth or the duration of His lifetime, but for several years even after His death.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (TM) tells us this “For a child has been born—for us! the gift of a son—for us!

He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. His ruling authority will grow and there’ll be no limits to the Peace He brings”

Christ Brought peace, love, joy... He made a way out, everything was now on Him; He was going to rule the world and sort things out. He basically gave us a chance to relax and stop running our own world whilst being worried and stressed out about things. He is in control Now.

Somehow we’ve let that Unity slip away from us. Even when we gather around for Christmas, everyone is still killing time on apps, social networks and our cyber world. Our friends and families are sitting across from us at the table but we’re too busy sending SMS's to people in our phones that we cannot say actual words to the people we love.

Maybe it’s not a time issue, maybe we’re not too busy to help each other, maybe we are just caught up in unforgiveness and the past. 

Whatever it is, it is time to let those reasons go and bring back Unity.  Colossians 3:14b “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which holds you all together in perfect unity”. The love that we need has already been displayed in a perfect sacrifice and we are to follow that example; putting ourselves aside so we can help others get ahead (Philippians 2:3). It’s time to be interested in the lives of others enough to encourage them and lift them up when they are down (Phil 2:4)

In this time of year, we are to reconcile. God not only wants you to have peace with Him; He also wants you to have peace (goodwill) with other people, too (Luke 2:14). Rick Warren says this “Rather than promoting harmony, holiday seasons often become a time of conflict. All families have difficulties; there are jealousies, grudges, resentment, and misunderstanding”. How can a body be divided against itself?

When Christ is in you and me, then Christ isn't going to argue with Christ. We're never going to have peace on Earth until the Prince of Peace reigns in everybody's heart, and that’s why we need to reconcile with God and with other people.

So in this season, let’s get on the same team. We are one In Christ. We are strong together, when we are Unified. 

J.O.