Friday, September 22, 2006

Thinking About Unity

By Ingrid Schlueter

With all the discussion about the comments section here at Slice I've been thinking much about unity. How sad is it that Ingrid had to write, and I agree with her one hundred percent, "I am frankly sick of some of the bickering and nastiness that is once again becoming a problem from readers."

Beloved, even though we will have differences may we be careful to honor our Lord in how we express those differences with fellow believers in our personal conversations with each other. Let us remember that it is written: "Let your speech be always with grace" (Colossians 3:16). Here is another very good reminder from A.W. Tozer on the grave importance for all of us who are in Christ to be in unity.

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2-3)

"Unity of mind on the part of the people of God precedes the blessing. I have often heard people pray, 'Oh Lord, send the Holy Spirit that we may become a united people.' That is all right except it is precisely backwards. The Holy Spirit comes because we are a united people; He does not come to make us a united people. Our prayer should be more like, 'Lord, help us to get united in order that the blessing might flow and there might be an outpouring of oil and dew and life...' "

"This teaches us that unity is necessary to the outpouring of the Spirit of God. If you have 120 volts of electricity coming into your house but you have broken wiring, you may turn the switch, but nothing works - no lights come on, the stove doesn't warm, your radio doesn't turn on."

"Why? Because you have broken wiring. The power is ready to do its work with all the appliances in your home, but where there is broken wiring, you have no power. Unity is necessary among the children of God if we are going to know the flow of power." Success and the Christian, (086-087).

" 'Lord, help us to get united in order that the blessing might flow and there might be an outpouring of oil and dew and life. Amen.' " (Tozer on Christian Leadership, September 22)

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