DRAWING NEAR
MAY 5
The Priority of Spiritual Unity
"The names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon,
who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son
of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas
and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James the son of Alphaeus, and
Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who
betrayed Him" (Matt. 10:2-4).
Unity is a crucial element in the life of the church-- especially
among its leadership. A unified church can accomplish great things
for Christ, but disunity can cripple or destroy it. Even the most
orthodox churches aren't immune to disunity's subtle attack because
it often arises from personality clashes or pride rather than
doctrinal issues.
God often brings together in congregations and ministry teams people
of vastly different backgrounds and temperaments. That mix produces a
variety of skills and ministries but it also produces the potential
for disunity and strife. That was certainly true of the disciples,
which included an impetuous fisherman like Peter; two passionate and
ambitious "sons of thunder" like James and John; an analytical,
pragmatic, and pessimistic man like Philip; a racially prejudiced man
like Bartholomew; a despised tax collector like Matthew; a political
Zealot like Simon; and a traitor like Judas, who was in it only for
the money and eventually sold out for thirty pieces of silver.
Imagine the potential for disaster in a group like that! Yet their
common purpose transcended their individual differences, and by His
grace the Lord accomplished through them what they never could have
accomplished on their own. That's the power of spiritual unity!
As a Christian, you're part of a select team that is accomplishing
the world's greatest task: finishing the work Jesus began. That
requires unity of purpose and effort. Satan will try to sow seeds of
discord, but you must do everything possible to heed Paul's
admonition to be "of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united
in spirit, and intent on one purpose" (Phil. 2:2).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Pray daily for unity among the leaders and congregation of your
church.
For Further Study:
Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, noting how Paul addressed the issue of
disunity in the Corinthian church.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (NKJV)
3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people
but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you
were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and
divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos,"
are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom
you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but
God who gives the increase.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will
receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are
God's building.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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