Over the last few years, something that has absolutely fascinated me about the Christian church is the unity that believers are called to, despite the fact that the individual members of the church are often so different. Let me explain...
As human beings, we tend to gravitate towards people who are very similar to us. We often spend our time with people who have similar interests as ours, are around our same age, in our same stage of life, etc. (Maybe the similarities give us a sense of comfort, or something.) Now, those things are not necessarily a bad thing, but the church, however, is strikingly different.
As we mentioned in a previous devotion, the global church is made up of all different kinds of people. It is made up of people from different countries, languages, ethnicities, preferences, political affiliations, likes, dislikes, etc. There are plenty more things we could add to that list, but I get the feeling you understand what I am talking about. But the thing that is so interesting about the church is that it is not those things that unify the people, or divide the people, for that matter. In fact, unity within the church in spite of those differences plays a role in displaying the
"manifold wisdom of God" (
Ephesians 3:10) to the universe.
Take a few moments to read
Ephesians 4:1-7. This passage in the middle of the book of Ephesians calls the church to be unified, and even explains where this supernatural unity comes from. Remember, the church is made up of a people who have all been transformed by the power of the gospel. As a part of that transformation, the things that define us begin to change as well! Notice that in
Ephesians 4, the great unifier that Paul describes is the gospel! The Ephesian church is called to be unified because,
"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift" (
Ephesians 4:4-7). That is the gospel!
A few years ago, I was pointed to an amazing book called "
Above All" by J.D. Greear. (I would highly recommend you to pick up a copy.) Throughout this book, Pastor J.D. spends his time explaining that the gospel must be "Above All'' in the life of the believer. He explains that Christians must be a people who elevate the gospel above our nationalities, languages, preferences, political affiliations, likes, dislikes, etc. Now, Pastor J.D. is not arguing that those things don't have any significance, but rather, that the gospel has
more significance.
We see that same point ringing true in our Ephesians 4 passage! Once again, take a moment to notice that it is the gospel, elevated above all else, that unifies the Ephesians church. It is the gospel that unifies the global church and the local church!
Now, picture this: a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation who are unified by something that is not of this world: the gospel. The only explanation for that is that God did it!
"Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places" (
Ephesians 3:10).
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