What’s So Great about Unity?

by Annie Yorty

Seattle Times: Assassination attempt: A call for unity

NPR: Biden calls for unity following Trump assassination attempt

Daily News: Trump calls for unity in emotional Republican convention speech after shooting

Even with a name that proclaims unity—United States of America—our country’s politics seem to thrive on discord. But this past week, we’ve heard repeated calls for unity. The attempt on the ex-president’s life has inspired the same message from all political types. But what’s so great about unity?

In a time of crisis, humans incline to unity because it is the state God has written onto our hearts.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NLT)

God created people to imitate the oneness of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit. The three persons of God always act with one holy accord.

A Definition of Unity

Unity has different facets. Merriam-Webster helps to bring the concept into focus.

• the quality or state of not being multiple: ONENESS
• a condition of harmony: ACCORD
• the resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and consistency of style and character

Why does God want unity for His people?

Though God exists eternally as three distinct Persons, He is One.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. (Ephesians 4:5-6 NLT)

When we live in harmony with one another, our unity accentuates God’s essence and glory. When we act together for God’s purposes, we help the world know and experience the Kingdom of God.

If we were created for unity, why are people always at each other’s throats?

Sin disrupted the cohesion God placed within His creation. Now integral in the DNA we inherit from Adam and Eve, sin preys on our weak flesh—our physical desires and inclination to put ourselves first.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. (Galatians 5:19-21 NLT)

None of these behaviors promotes unity among people. Without God’s intervention, none of us could overcome our tendency toward division.

How does God accomplish unity in us?

Jesus told His disciples He would return to His throne in heaven after He died on the cross and rose to life on the third day. They were distraught at the thought of losing Him. He reassured them He would never leave them alone.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:16-17 NLT)

God’s Spirit within us produces a like-mindedness with Him and with others who live under His authority and leadership.

What’s our part?

In our own strength, we can unify nothing. Our ability to live in unity with others comes from the Spirit living in us. We must choose to refuse our own fleshly desires (God helps with this too) and yield our wills to God’s will. When we wake up each day and commit to “bind” ourselves to God’s Spirit, He unifies us with other followers of Jesus who do the same.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. (Ephesians 4:3 NLT)

Remember, unity is only made possible by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. We cannot achieve true harmony with people who have not submitted to His lordship.

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT)

Of course, we must make every effort to live peacefully and compassionately with those who have not accepted salvation from Jesus by faith. But we must also recognize they don’t have the capacity for unity that comes from the Holy Spirit. We must pray for them to see the Light of Christ, accept salvation, and receive unity with God.

A Beautiful Example

My eyes scanned a sea of humanity as I dragged my luggage through the automatic doors of the New York City airport. After a few anxious moments, I spotted people in shirts that matched mine. Ahhh.

I made a beeline for the group of strangers with whom I would spend the next few weeks ministering to orphans in Russia. The relief I felt didn’t dispel my worry about how such a diverse group could come together to accomplish the job.

On my first short-term mission trip, I couldn’t imagine how God would supernaturally knit together the hearts of fifteen unique people from different parts of the country. But consistent with Ephesians 3:20, He sure showed me!

I witnessed unity when the youngest in the group stepped up to care for the elders. When our hearts cried out to God in spontaneous predawn prayer gatherings. When strangers in a foreign land became lifelong friends. When God wove our testimonies together into a glorious tapestry of the gospel message.

God molded our willing hearts into the shape of His plan and purpose. His Spirit enabled us to act in one accord—unity.

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! (Psalm 133:1 NLT)

Friends, our desire for the peace of unity is satisfied as we yield control of our lives to the Holy Spirit each morning.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT)

Join the conversation:

What joy have you experienced from unity found in the fellowship of God’s Spirit?

I welcome your comments.

Copyright ©2024 Annie Yorty