If Only They Would….
Wouldn’t it be so much easier to develop unity if only they would…..
Get on the same page (as me).
Believe the same theology and doctrine (as me).
Execute ministry the same (as me).
Adopt the same politics (as me).
All too often, we want to build unity with others with the unspoken expectation that really, what we want is for them to agree with us. We expect them to move towards us to build unity. To get on my page. To get with my agenda.
In reality, unity will not happen if you only expect ‘them’ to change.
In reality, you cannot convince anyone into a forced or fake unity which would eventually fade and fall away anyway.
You are not responsible for another person’s thoughts, actions, or feelings. Yes, lively discussions or intellectual debates might do some good to change another person’s mind, but you cannot expect unity to flow simply by waiting for ‘them’ to change.
Unity begins with you
True unity must flow out of a heart where love, humility, and belonging are deeply rooted and overflowing until unity is the natural result. You cannot expect or make that happen in another person. You simply can’t.
Unity begins when we go inward to examine our hearts.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
Psalm 139: 23-24
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
When the beauty of love, humility, and belonging flow out of you, then people will naturally move towards you in unity. You can’t help but be irresistibly drawn into oneness with people because that unity is where God commands the blessing (stay tuned, more on that in the next blog post)!
Are you asking God to search your heart for any lack of unity?
Are you asking God to search your heart when division arises?
Have you asked God to lead you in the way of love, humility, and belonging with others that leads to oneness and unity with other believers?
Do you need help with developing unity in your church or ministry? Or within yourself? Check out these free resources here!
Even more exciting….would you like to get together to pray for unity in our churches and communities? Join me Monday, Aug 1, 2022 at 7pm central for a zoom call to pray for unity! Sign up here for all the details!
Let’s continue this conversation in the WoW Facebook group! What are your biggest obstacles to unity? Head over there to leave a comment!
~Amy