"Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.” Colossians 3:12-13
Since the beginning of creation, humanity has been purposed to live in unity: unity with God and unity with one another. Deep down, it’s what our souls crave. We want to be seen, known, and heard for who we are–without fearing judgment or rejection. After all, God is a God who allows His children (us) to come to Him openly, to share our struggles, and to be vulnerable in front of Him. He meets us in the midst of our openness and vulnerability with love–a perfect love. The kind of love that casts out fears (1 John 4:18) and covers us in righteousness and grace, not judgment and rejection. So, if this is the example God sets for us, why is it so hard to live out this unity with one another?
The answer is not so simple. There are a lot of factors that hinder us from the unity we are created for, but in short, the fact is that we’re human. We mess up. We’re often selfish and self-centered. We hurt others with our words and actions. And sometimes, our selfish ambitions break our ties of unity with others.
But despite our human flaws, there’s still good news: It doesn’t have to stay that way. We can choose today to live in the unity we’ve been created for and below are five simple ways to do it.
5 Practices for Living in Unity:
- Be kind. Being kind to one another means we don’t do wrong to one another. This includes gossiping about others, arguing, demeaning, seeking revenge, or holding grudges against others. If you’re not sure whether or not you’re doing any of these, ask yourself this question: Are the words coming out of my mouth going to speak goodness to or about others, or will they lift them up in a positive way? If the answer holds the slightest no, then don’t say it!
“Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD,” Leviticus 19:18
- Be humble. Jesus exemplified perfect humility while on this earth. As believers, we are called to follow Jesus’ lead in practicing humility. “Jesus, who existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant …” (Philippians 2:5-8). This act of humility is what brought people to Him. When we put others before ourselves, we see and recognize their needs. When we meet the needs of others ,wwe showthem love and grace, and in turn, wwe bring them to Jesus.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
- Show love. When you know Christ, you know love. Christ is love, and His love is unconditional. It’s not based on the tallied marks of right or wrong choices you’ve made–it’s an abiding love that never goes away. Why is it that Jesus fed Judas at His Passover table if He knew Judas would betray Him? The answer is simple: because love. Love covers a multitude of wrongs. When we choose to love others, we become the living, breathing example of God’s love in us.
“This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
- Forgive one another. I know this one can be hard. There are times when the words or actions of others can create deep soul wounds. But forgiveness is not about freeing the other person for the wrongs they’ve done against you. It’s about freeing you. Unforgiveness keeps us in perpetual chains of bitterness, resentment, and revenge–all of which inhibit our unity with others. Forgiveness is about letting go of those chains and releasing yourself from the responsibility of feeling like you need to control how the other person is repaid for the hurtful things they did to you.
Forgiving one another also reminds us of our need to be forgiven. Just as much as we need to forgive, we also need to confess and release the wrongs we’ve done to others.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
- Always pray. Living in unity with others isn’t always easy to do. It takes practice and strength–strength from the Holy Spirit, not ourselves. So pray that God will give you the strength and ability to practice unity with others daily through kindness, humility, love, and forgiveness.
Pray also for the people whom God has put in your life. Praying for others strengthens the spiritual bond we share and reminds us that we each have a unique purpose and ability in the Body of Christ.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
-Brittany
Let's Talk About It: What does living in unity with others mean to you? What helps you live in unity with others or, what hinders you from living in unity with others?
About Brittany:
Owner and Founder of Living Truth Collective, Brittany Tate, has a sincere passion for equipping women in God’s Truth. Her passion for biblical studies and psychology has led her to currently pursue a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. As wife and mom of 5, she loves writing, spending time with her family, and traveling--all of these with a large matcha in her hand!
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