Jesus & Politics: A 5-Day Devotionalნიმუში

Unity Is Worth Fighting For

Have you ever found out someone’s political affiliation, and it changed how you felt about them? Unfortunately, political parties can quickly bring division, even among believers. If you proudly identify as a Republican or a Democrat, you may find it difficult to talk to somebody who doesn’t see things the same way you see them. And on top of it all, we carry smartphones everywhere, which become an echo chamber of what we already think and believe. Your phone’s personal feed tells you what you already believe, to the point that you may not be able to imagine somebody thinking differently from you. You might find yourself thinking, “Don’t they see what I’m seeing in the world?” No, they don’t see what you’re seeing because they have a whole different feed on their phone.

The apostle Paul challenges us in 1 Corinthians, saying, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."

Paul seems to be echoing the words of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane by saying, “I’m begging you that you would be united in heart, will, and passion.” The word “division” in the Greek means “split or tearing apart.” One of our enemy's greatest strategies is to try to divide us, to tear us apart, because he knows a divided body can't function the way it's called to.

Remember, as believers, we are the Body of Christ. If we're divided, we're disjointed and dismembered. And a disjointed, dismembered body can't do what it's created to do—and we can’t be who we’re created to be. So we have to fight for unity because when we are unified as one, we are unstoppable.

The Bible tells us that unity is powerful. But unity doesn’t mean uniformity. We don’t all need to think the same way or have the same perspectives. We are all very different. If you've ever played on a sports team, then you understand that what makes a team win isn’t that they play the same position, but that they're moving in the same direction. You can’t do your own thing if you want to win. The same is true with our spiritual mission. We have to work together. And when we work together, we can win together.

Are you letting the enemy cause division in your relationships over politics, or are you pursuing unity? Take some time today to pray for unity in the Body of Christ and for unity in your relationships.

Prayer:

God, I pray that you would help me to rise above the enemy’s plan of division in my relationships. I pray that I would stay on the spiritual mission of unity with my fellow believers, even if they vote or think differently than I do. I pray for unity in the Body of Christ and that your Church would be united and strong no matter what is taking place in the world. Amen.