25-330 — Unity Among Believers

Today we’re stepping into one of the most critical, urgent, and often misunderstood parts of our walk with Christ:Unity.Not uniformity.Not agreement on every opinion.Not pretending everything is fine.Unity.The kind of unity Jesus prayed for in John 17 — the unity that tells the watching world, “These people belong to God.”But let’s be honest…Church unity doesn’t always come naturally.Personalities clash.Preferences collide.Opinions get sharp.Egos rise.Old wounds resurface.And if we’re not careful, we begin treating each other like opponents instead of partners.I’ve lived through seasons where my words didn’t unite — they divided.Times when I fought to win instead of fighting to love.Times when I viewed conversations like battlefields instead of opportunities for grace.And God had to whisper a truth that reset my heart:“Unity isn’t losing — it’s surrendering to My Spirit.”Let’s unpack this.📜 OUR SPRINGBOARD FOR TODAY’S DISCUSSION IS:Ephesians 4:3 (ESV)“Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”📖 TEACHINGUnity doesn’t happen automatically.Paul says we must be eager — intentional, active, committed — to maintain it.Why?Because unity is spiritual warfare.When believers walk in unity:* The enemy loses influence* Gossip loses power* Offense loses opportunity* Pride loses its grip* Love becomes a weapon* Community becomes a fortressBut unity is also uncomfortable, because true unity requires:* Humility* Patience* Forgiveness* Listening* Dying to being right* Seeing the big pictureUnity is not “everyone thinks like me.”Unity is “everyone submits to Christ like me.”And that’s the key:Unity flows from surrender, not similarity.It’s choosing the Spirit over the flesh.It’s choosing grace over winning.It’s choosing relationship over ego.It’s choosing mission over pride.There was a time, Brother…when my words were sharper than my discernment.I thought I was defending righteousness, when really, I was defending my pride.In those days, unity wasn’t my goal — victory was.But victory-at-the-expense-of-brotherhood is not Kingdom victory.When my life began to shake…When relationships were strained…When closeness with Christ felt distant…I started to see what I had sacrificed, not for truth, but for being right.And the Holy Spirit whispered:“Matthew… My unity starts with your humility.”That whispered truth changed the way I approached the church.It changed the way I listened.It changed the way I spoke to people.And Michelle played a role in that shift.She’s always been a bridge-builder — a woman who refuses to let bitterness have the final word.She’s lived through deep wounds, exhaustion, loss, and disappointment…Yet she has this ability to show honor, even when she’s hurting.Watching her taught me something profound:Unity isn’t built on who deserves grace — it’s built on who chooses grace.And that is where the Body becomes strong.🛠️ LIVING APPLICATIONIf you want to walk in unity that pleases God:* Choose humility before opinion.You don’t lose authority by lowering yourself — you gain it.* Refuse to let offense make decisions for you.Offense is a spiritual parasite.* Listen more than you speak.Listening is not weakness — it’s wisdom.* See fellow believers as teammates, not rivals.We’re fighting the same enemy.* Let the Spirit check your heart before your mouth checks someone else’s.📅 DAILY ACTIONReach out to one person today —a fellow believer — and encourage them.Unity grows one intentional act at a time.🏋️ PRACTICEAsk God:“Who in my spiritual circle needs grace, not judgment, from me today?”Then act on it.⚔️ CHALLENGE OF THE WEEKDeclare this daily:“I choose unity. I refuse division.”🙏 PRAYERFather, make me a carrier of unity.Strip away pride, defensiveness, and the desire to win arguments.Give me the heart of Christ — gentle, humble, patient.Help me build bridges, not walls.Let my presence bring peace, healing, and encouragement to the Body.Unify us by Your Spirit, and protect our hearts from the schemes of the enemy.In Jesus’ name — amen.⚡ Let’s Get To Work.Thanks for reading My Reasons To Believe! This post is public so feel free to share it.My Reasons To Believe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe