United in Christ, Divided by Sin

Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

D.L. MOODY
One of the saddest things in the present day is the division in God’s church. You notice that when the power of God came upon the early church, it was when they were “all of one accord” (see Acts 2). I believe the blessing of Pentecost never would have been given but for that spirit of unity. If they had been divided and quarrelling among themselves, do you think the Holy Ghost would have come and those thousands been converted?
I have noticed in our work, that if we have gone to a town where three churches were united in it, we have had greater blessing than if only one church was in sympathy. And if there have been twelve churches united, the blessing has multiplied fourfold; it has always been in proportion to the spirit of unity that has been manifested. Where there are bickerings and divisions, and where the spirit of unity is absent, there is very little blessing and praise.

ERWIN LUTZER
Why was the early church unstoppable? With political authorities and other religions competing for the same minds and the same hearts, Christianity marched along with tremendous strength. Unstoppable! In the book of Acts, it says that “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). The Greek word for fellowship means they shared something in common. We are united not by common interests but a shared common life—the life of Christ. What unites us is more powerful than what divides us.
Unity—true unity on the part of all who are members of Christ’s body— is an unstoppable force.

PRAYER
Father, unite me in love and faith with your church.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What threats to unity with other Christian brothers and sisters do you need to address?

How are you celebrating fellowship with God and others?