Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Philippians 2:2 There is one thing that I need to say before I get to the point of this. I would remind us all that our enemies are not flesh and blood (indeed this IS the point), and that Paul reminds us who the real enemy is in Ephesians 6:10-20. And this is what those who have been deceived and are drunk in their own power fear: unity in love. It is why Christians have been killed since the first stone was thrown at Stephen the Deacon. You cannot control those united in Truth and Love, which is why the world continually attempts to sew divisiveness and fear. There have always been corrupt politicians. There has always been war, pestilence, strife, floods, famines, locusts, and earthquakes. Yet, what the enemy fears the most is people who stand FIRM upon God's promises, united together in perfect love. When the Church adopts such an attitude, it shows the world that there is more to life than self-love, self-pity, and self-preservation. When the church seeks to be like Jesus, perfect in love of God and one another, it shakes the foundations of Hell to the ground. The Rebellion of God has no defense against the perfect love of Christ, nor can it stand, truly, against His people unified as one. When we love each other, we prove who Jesus is. When we love one another, we show there is more to life than hate, and self-loathing. We become who we were designed to be, walking in the presence of God in harmony with one another. Christian, it is not for us to perpetuate the lies and hate, but to point to how powerful God is by our unity and love. Jesus stated (and I've repeated a time or two) that the world would know us by this one thing: our love for one another. Isn't it time we take Him at His word, and live it out? Philippians 2:1-18 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
