Soul Food: “Unified Believers” by Robin Arnold
“The group of believers were united in their hearts and spirit. All those in the group acted as though their private property belonged to everyone in the group. In fact, they shared everything.”
Acts 4:32 New Century Version (NCV)
Most of us have learned the hard way that we need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions if we want to put things together right. I once purchased a large wall unit for my office and it came in eight boxes and contained hundreds of pieces of hardware. After organizing and studying the directions, I began to assemble the wall unit.
I followed the directions, step-by-step. The process was wearisome and complex and took several hours and I made quite a few mistakes. I had to go back and examine, ponder, and reapply the instructions and the directions. I finally completed the wall unit and it was beautiful! The unit had open shelves that varied in size between deep, long, short, and shallow, some enclosed by solid or glass doors and drawers. When finished, it was strong, reliable and capable of holding, protecting, and displaying all of the items I wanted and needed to place in its individual sections. I was able to store and protect important documents, stack books of various shapes, sizes and weights, and display photos and delicate trinkets, all in the same unit, at the same time.
On completion, as I looked at the unit, the importance of each step and each piece of the tedious process became apparent. I realized that although I did not fully understand why I had to follow the directions exactly as they were presented, I did understand that it was necessary in order to insure the stability, preserve the integrity, and use the unit to its full potential.
As believers, we are called into one body, the body of Christ. We are to strive for unity among ourselves in all areas of our lives. Unity is the state of being one or single of mind. We are to be likeminded with Christ and renew our minds through the endurance and encouragement the scripture provides for us.
We should live in mutual harmony out of love for one another and in accordance with Christ as we make an effort to dwell in the spirit of unity between believers; there should be no divisions or arguments among us.
To acquire and maintain unity takes desire and effort with one another in Christ. It takes humility, patience and endurance, and it is definitely a lesson in love.
Unity is produced by the spirit of God. The spirit has the power to bind us together, creating a force to be reckoned with, and leaving us with peace. Be aware that the opposite is also true; if there are fights and quarreling among us, then we keep ourselves out of service to the real battles and wars we face in life.
When we are in singleness of mind, then the power of God is able to work among us.
Just as the wall unit holds and supports a plethora of shapes, sizes and weights, as a unified Christian body we are capable of educating, counseling, feeding, clothing, housing, witnessing, praying and delivering believers who have strayed as well as non-believers.
Unified, we bring glory and praise to God our Father through Kingdom enhancement.
Prayer:
Today, I pray that you make every effort to live in unity with other believers. May the spirit of God grant you the love and patience required to live in singleness of mind so that the power of God will be evident in your lives and through it bring glory to God.
Reflection Questions:
What spiritual gift have you been given that you can use to enhance your community?
As a believer, what can you do to encourage other believers to use the gifts that God has given them?
Treasure Hunt:
Philippians 2:2
Romans 14:19
1 Peter 3:8
Faith in Action:
Forgive. To strengthen the bond of unity forgiveness must be present. Take time this week to pray about forgiveness. Ask for forgiveness for either something you have done in the past, or forgive yourself for something that you have done.
For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:48 (New King James Version)
Author: Rev. Robin Arnold
Robin Arnold is an ordained minister and a native of Denver, Colorado. She made Huntsville her home in 1982. Robin is a mother of four adult children, a grandmother of four, a mother-in-law, a niece, an aunt, a sister and a daughter which she thanks God for each and everyday. A powerful, dynamic, speaker, Robin uses the gifts of the Spirit to speak from her heart and soul with a genuine love for whom God made her and for what she does. Robin has authored and published Dear God… It’s Me: Spiritual Poetry and Dear God…It’s Me – A Meditation Journal. Currently she is working on Walking Between the Raindrops, a collection of stories by and about people who have influenced her life and What is…Asked Javien, a Christian children’s book collection. When asked how and/or why she does all that she does, she simply replies…I Am The Lord’s.
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