Unity

​Imagine with me a ship called Argy-Bargy.  Captain Accord is given a mission to sail the ship to an island called Habitué.  He tells Lieutenant Divagate to set a course of 340 degrees but the officer is distracted and misunderstands the course as 314 degrees. When he repeats the course back to the Captain, his southern accent does not help and he is given confirmation that is 26 degrees off course. ​Petty Officer 3rd Class Makebate got in a fight with Petty Officer 2nd Class Invidious and, though he was the instigator, he was furious when Ensign Feckless threw him in the brig for three days. When he got out he managed to convince Petty Officer Mugwump and Seaman Apprentice Fulminate that the officers on board Argy-Bargy were corrupt and out to get them. They hatched a plan to sabotage as many officers as they could on social media by spreading malicious lies. What they didn’t realize is that Lieutenant Commander Popinjay overheard them talking and reported them to Master Chief Petty Officer Sot who just happened to be from Makebate’s home town and was a friend of the family. Sot, after a few beers to think about the whole thing, chose not to say anything to the Skipper. Instead he casually shared with the XO, Commander Garboil, that a misunderstanding had occurred among some of the junior enlisted men but that he had handled it.  What do you think of the state of unity on this ship? Will it reach Habitué? ​

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Meditation
Ephesians 4:4-6—There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
 
Unity is the state of being one; being combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; oneness of mind, feeling, etc., as among a number of persons; concord, harmony, or agreement.[1]  Without unity the Argy-Bargy is unlikely to reach its destination.  Without unity, the body of Christ is a mess, an affront to God and a laughingstock to the world.  A disunited body of Christ is characterized by factions, dissension and constant infighting. Why does God want His children to live in unity?  At least three reasons jump out!
1. Focus. We stay on mission to live out the gospel in accordance with God’s calling. Each person is able to flourish in his or her giftedness.  
2. Power. Unity makes the whole body healthy and stronger. Benjamin Franklin said, “We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we will all hang separately.” There is an African proverb that says, “When spider webs unite, they tie up a lion.”
3. Credibility. This is best understood through Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21-23--May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
            
Right now, in this age of dissension, the body of Christ must put its eyes on the Father, set aside debilitating differences and walk in obedience to its calling. Much is at stake—let us come together! 
 
Inspiration
Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.—Mattie Stepanek
 
©2020 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)


[1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/unity?s=t