The wonderful One-ness with God… When we talk about One-ness (or Unity), we think and talk about unity with other people because God is pleased with that. Here are Scriptures:
Psalm 133:1 – How good and pleasure it is when brothers live together in unity.
Romans 12:16 – Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.
1 Cor 1:10 – I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
2 Cor 13:11 – Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, and live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Ephesians 4:3 – Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:14 – And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Peter 3:8 – Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic; love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
1 John 4:11-12 – Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love made complete in us.
Often, we don’t think about the more important unity - that is with God. In fact, without Jesus and reconciliation with God, we never can have unity with other people. Our sinful nature, full of pride, envy, greed and selfish ambitions will not allow us to be humble and in unity with one another. Here are Scriptures about the One-ness with God.
John 17:23-26 – I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
Romans 6:5 – If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
Philip 2:1-5 – If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
In a marriage, the relationship between husband and wife depends on the relationship each person has with God. With God in their life, they will stay away from sins. With the indwelling Holy Spirit, they are God’s children and their hearts are pure because our God is a consuming, purifying, cleansing, and healing fire (Hebrew 12:29). When there are problems, the relationship that husband and wife have with God will bring them back together. They remember and respect the vows that they made to each other in front of families, the church and God. They will remember that Love is patient, kind, etc. defined in 1 Cor 13 and God’s command in Proverbs 5:18 – May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. They will obey God, will forgive and come back to each other. God’s love and humility demonstrated.
In many broken and dysfunctional churches, people fight for power and selfish ambitions. They simply lack humility and unity with God and in God. And without God, fame, money, and power will fill people’s hearts and drive their thoughts and actions. They will compare and compete out of envy of other people’s gifts, good works and accomplishments.
I pray that we seek God first, be united with God above all things (Matthew 6:33) and that we keep the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds (Rom 8:16).