5 Ways to Practice Living in Unity

"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 the fear of 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, in fact. The kind of love that casts out fears (1 John 4:18) and covers us in righteousness, not judgement and rejection. So if this is the example God sets for us, why is it so hard for us to live out this unity with one another?

The answer is not so simple. There are a lot of factors of why we hinder ourselves from the unity we have been 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 breaks our ties of unity with others.

But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to stay that way. We can choose today to live in the unity we were created for and below are 5 simple ways to do it.

5 ways to practice living in unity:

1. Be kind. Being kind to 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 it 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

2. Be humble. Jesus exampled the perfect practice of humility while on this earth and, as believers, we should adopt that same practice as well. Jesus, who existing in the form of God never considered His equality with God as something that should be exploited instead, He served others by showing them love and grace. This act of humility is what brought people to Him. When we put others before ourselves we’re able to see and recognize their needs. When we meet the needs of others we’re showing them love and grace, and in turn, we’re bringing them to Jesus.

(Also, I love what C.S. Lewis says about humility, “Humility is not thinking less about yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”)

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

3. Show love. When you know Christ, you know love. Christ is love and His love is unconditional. It’s not based on the tally marks of the right or wrongs you’ve committed instead, 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

4. 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 has the ability to keep us in perpetual chains of bitterness, resentment, and revenge – all of which inhibits our unity with others. Forgiveness is about letting go of those chains that bind from showing others the love we’re capable of showing them. It releases us from the responsibility of our need for control – controlling how the person who wronged us should be repaid for what they’ve done to us. Forgiveness also reminds us of our need to be forgiven just as much as we need to forgive. It serves as a two-way street – an opportunity to confess and release the wrongs we’ve done and the ones done to us.

“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

5. Always pray. Living in unity with others isn’t always easy to do. It takes practice and strength – strength that comes from the Spirit of God and not of ourselves. So pray, always, that God will give you the strength and ability to practice unity through kindness, humility, compassion and love, forgiveness, and gentleness with others every day. And pray also for the people whom God has put in your life. Praying for others strengthens the Spiritual bond that connects you to one another and the One who created each of us.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

-Brittany