What Does It Mean to Live in Unity of Spirit?

June 26, 2022

By Brooke Holt

“Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” The Collect, Book of Common Prayer

Have you ever wondered what life was like for Jesus and his disciples? Do you think of a certain utopia as you think of their shared lives of a traveling ministry? Surely it was easy because Jesus was right there, right?

You may want to think again. Those disciples were just like you and me—sinful, stubborn, prideful, etc. Whatever we struggle with in this world, likely, they did too. Jesus called broken, sinful men to follow him. His presence transformed these people, but it was not the easy fix we might want to believe. Yet, through time, these men were transformed. They learned the ways of Jesus and worked through their conflicts. After Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit, they were unified in mission and vision as they were empowered to go out and proclaim God’s kingdom. They still were not perfect, but they were unified in their calling individually and corporately.

Today, we are the disciples of Jesus Christ and are to share in that unity of Spirit. God calls each of us with our unique personalities and gifts, different backgrounds and ethnicities, and even our different political party affiliations. And the Lord calls us to lay aside our pride and selfish agendas to faithfully follow him.

What might that look like? It begins with recognizing it is all about Jesus! It is not about our agendas for the church. It is not about making us look or feel good. It is always about elevating Jesus and building his church upon the foundation of his Word and truth. Even the church’s most important issues and agendas are secondary to Jesus and his kingdom.

This Collect prays that God’s people will join together in unity of spirit. Are you working in the power of God’s Holy Spirit to be transformed from seeking your will and way to seeking God’s will and way? Only in surrendering your will are you able to find God’s will. When you truly surrender and follow Jesus wholeheartedly, you find this unity of Spirit.

May God find you faithful to building that unity today!

Reflection:

What issues do you see dividing your church today? How can you personally surrender your will and selfish desires to align with Christ, his kingdom, and his Spirit? Then, how can you become one who leads to unity within the body of Christ? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a "gift" who will guide us, lead us, and empower us. Yet many believers don't experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This unique Christian small group Bible study provides a space in which we can explore what it truly means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. The Spirit-Filled Life small group curriculum centers on a 6-part video teaching series examining the life-giving and creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Begin to experience the gift today!