I shared in the last devotional, that when we follow Jesus, we begin a process of transformation that positions us for true unity with others. This helps us not to force ourselves into a certain mold of conformity in order to be in unity with others.
Biblical unity is based on scripture and God’s will for the body of Christ. Paul tell us the following in 1Corinthian 12:12-14:
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
If we are going to operate as a body, we need to be united and remain united.Looking unto Jesus and desiring to conform to His image, does not negate that each of us still will look and operate differently from each other. God has designed us to be a body with many members and functions. Our differences should not separate us but complement each other. A body of many parts needs each member to do its job in order for the body to be supported well and accomplish all its assigned tasks.
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Ephesians 2:2-4
In Ephesians 2, Paul tells us that in humility we need to consider others better than ourselves. The truth is that our fallen nature does not function that way. Superiority complex or inferiority complex should have no room in the life of a believer or the body of Christ. The Biblical mandate tells us to humble ourselves which means we need to stop being self-absorbed and make everything be about us. We also need to consider others better than ourselves. This is not for the purpose of comparing our value to others and feel inferior. It is about appreciating and valuing what others contribute to the health of the body as a whole. We would suffer if they were not here.
Lord, thank you for the provision of the body of Christ. Please show us your heart for the body and teach us how we can be part of bringing unity and avoiding conformity. Amen!
