Unity

UNITY
1Samuel 20:2
“…Jonathan replied, ‘You’re not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why should he hide this from me?’”

King Saul went crazy with jealous rage over David’s popularity among the Israelites and Israel’s troops—again. (See Tackling Discord devotion). Jonathan, Saul’s son, reiterated (re-IT-ter-a-ted, meaning say again) David’s loyalty, hoping to convince his Dad of David’s reliability.

But it didn’t work, and David fled to the prophet Samuel at Haioth, Ramah. Saul dispatched men to capture David and return him (1Samuel 19-18-23).

Failing to bring David back, Saul went after David, himself. Saul’s death threat against David led Jonathan to avow his love again. Together, they agreed to a plan. Check out 1Samuel 20:9-43, and decide whether they loved each other as brothers.

Why is unity so hard?

Does unity mean we all have to agree?

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 says, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given one Spirit.”

Every believer is indispensible (in-dis-PEN-sa-ble, meaning necessary) to the body of Christ. While we have different talents and interests, working together, our unity glorifies the Father.

Unity does not mean that everyone’s opinions or goals are identical. Each person is uniquely created, which means that no one person is like another. But our common purpose is the same—to serve and honor God.

Ephesians 4:12-13: “…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith…”

Take Home Nugget

Unity was not King Saul’s intent as long as jealousy gripped his heart. Infighting among family, friends, and organizations erupt with harsh accusations during conflict. But Scripture proclaims God’s sovereignty over nature (Psalm 135:6), government (Job 12:23), and mankind (Acts 17:25). When united believers strive together, God proves His sovereignty. God cannot fail, even under adverse circumstances.

Striving for unity does not mean avoiding conflict entirely; it means handling discord appropriately. Mismanaged conflict leads to fractured relationships. Avoiding conflict leads to unresolved hurt and anger. Believers arrive at peaceful resolutions to disagreements when relying on the Holy Spirit’s lead.
Psalm 34:14 says, “Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”

We’re never alone, or on our own.
Confident in unity, believers are Ambassadors of Christ.

J.D. Griffith

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Written for Bible Study for Kids.