Unity of the Body

March 26 – I am finally caught up with my devotional readings … I was reading in Our Daily Bread for March 23^rd about promoting unity.  That is what William and I are about; we come into a town, wherever it may be, contact the various fellowships and try to bring unity among the body.  I’m always amazed on how hard of a fight that is!  Everyone wants to build their own little kingdoms, keep to their own little clubhouses, rather than mix and mingle among the body, sharing in each other’s joys and sorrows.  

As the devotional points out in Prov. 6:16-19 that there are 7 things God really hates, and sowing ‘discord among brethren’ makes the list.  Now, I’m not trying to sow discord; but rather, I am trying to bring unity.   I know I’m treading a fine line here; however, I believe I am on the right side of the line by pointing out where the body is forgetting the Word, where in Phil. 2:5-11 God asks us to look out for our own interests AND the interests of others.   Our interest is unity in the body (and all ‘neighbors’ for that matter)!  Then we can take our cause to the streets where the lost and hurting can then be ministered to WITHOUT the jostling about for building membership in one fellowship or another.  That is what I liked so much about the ‘Church Without Walls’ and potluck we held for so long in the park in Ashland – multiple fellowships came together in unity to preach the Word and love on the people.  We went to be where the hurting people are.