Category Archives: Unity

Five men sitting in a blue car on a rural road, engaged in conversation
Bible, Division, Passion, Romans, Scripture, Unity

ONE VOICE

ROMANS 15:6

“so that with one purpose and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What kind of car is mentioned in the Bible? A Honda. It says they were all in “one accord.” Get it? Accord, like Honda Accord. I know, not very funny. What do you expect from a 65 year old missionary? We can wear out a good joke.

Why in the world did mention that? Because in today’s verse, Paul uses a word translated as “one purpose” which can also be translated as “one accord.” The Greek literally means “same passion.” Now, that is not so easy to do in most churches. People have their own opinions about how things should run. Paul also said we should be in “one voice.” That’s the point I want to concentrate on today.

APPLICATION

In Matthew 15:18 Jesus tells us, “‘But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and those things defile the person.’” The word “mouth” there is the same word used for “voice” in our verse today. Getting people in the body of Christ to speak with one voice is next to impossible. I have seen the biggest fights happen in churches over the color of the carpet or the songs that the choir should sing. Our mouth, our voice has a way of revealing what is really in the heart.

Barnes says it well, “That they might join without contention and unkind feeling, in the worship of God. Divisions, strife, and contention in the church prevent union in worship. Though the ‘body’ may be there, and the church ‘professedly’ engaged in public worship, yet it is a ‘divided’ service; and the prayers of strife and contention are not heard;” How true? You may have seen this yourself. You may have even been guilty of such “double talk” that caused division. Lord, forgive us if we ever allow our mouth to do that. Amen?

Paul wraps up this verse showing why it is important to have one purpose and one voice. He says so that, “you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is our reason for unity. We should always be about glorifying the Father, making Him known. I think Peter says it well in 1 Peter 4:11. “Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Can I get an amen? Are your words and actions giving glory to God? That is the question.

Father, I desire to glorify Your name about all. Help me guard my tongue so as to not do anything to cause disunity.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Father and three children exchanging Christmas presents sitting on the floor by a decorated tree
Bible, Body, Encouragement, Gifts, Perseverance, Romans, Scripture, Unity

GIFTS FROM THE FATHER

ROMANS 15:5

“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus,”

As a father and grandfather, I love to give good gifts to my children and grandchildren. Of course, as most grandparents, I love to spoil my grandchildren. Whether it be a new Hotwheel for my grandson or a doll for my granddaughter, it’s such a joy to see their excitement when they receive it. As our children and grandchildren get older, the gifts change, don’t they? The Happy Meal from McDonald’s doesn’t have the same effect on a teenager as it did to a five year old. But the gift is still a gift.

Paul tells us in today’s verse that the Lord gives us a couple of very special gifts. Perseverance and encouragement are given to His children for the purpose of helping us have “the same mind with one another.” We’ll get to that in a minute. But let’s look at these two gifts and how they apply to our Christian walk personally and corporally.

APPLICATION

“Perseverance” is the Greek word hupomoné. This word is used 32 times in the New Testament. The first time it’s used is in the parable of the sower in Luke 8:15. “‘But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.” We are told to persevere in our fruit production for the Lord. The Lord gives us this perseverance so that we will not become weary and give up. That reminds me of another passage where it used and translated as “endurance.” In James 1:2-4 we read, “2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Perseverance perfects and completes us.

The word “encouragement” is paraklésis and can be defined as comfort, consolation, exhortation or entreaty. (Strong’s Concordance) In 2 Corinthians 1:3, God is called the “God of all comfort.” Don’t you just love that? Take a minute and read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. I promise you will be blessed by it. God comforts so we can comfort. When you go through a difficult situation (death of a loved one, loss of a job, etc.), God comforts you so that you can comfort others going through a similar time.

God always has a reason to give us special gifts. He wants to bless us, yes, but He also wants us to bless others. Thus, the reason that is stated in today’s verse – “to have the same mind with one another.” God desires unity in the body of Christ. Through perseverance and encouragement, we are able to be unified. Accept those gifts today and bless someone else.

Use me, Lord, to be a blessing to others. Thank You for these special gifts.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Body, Members, Romans, Scripture, Service, Unity

ONE BODY IN CHRIST

ROMANS 12:5

“so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.”

“All for one and one for all.” You may have heard that chant before. I was watching my beloved Georgia Bulldogs capture the SEC men’s baseball championship a couple of days ago and thought of that chant. That baseball team is made up of 41 players. They each have their own position to play. The pitcher is usually the one that gets all the attention, but he is not effective without great players surrounding him. He cannot pitch that ball without someone to catch it. One team but many players.

Paul continues his analogy of the body and individual parts that he began in verse 4. The Greek word for “body” is sṓma. It can represent the physical body orBody of Christ, the church. Here, of course, Paul is using it to refer to the church. The Greek word translated as “parts” is melos. It means a member which belongs to the whole, like a limb of the body belongs to the whole body.

APPLICATION

Any successful sports team works to make sure every member of that team is valued and appreciated. The team needs every member to be whole. The same is true of the body of Christ. We need every member to be whole. Everyone plays their part. I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating. There once was a small stone chapel in Ireland that was just outside the edge of the village. There was no electricity in that chapel, so the only light that was available was the lanterns from the members. Each Sunday evening the villagers would light their lanterns and bring them to church to provide light for the service. With each additional lantern that arrived, the chapel became brighter. The people inside may not realize how much one lantern meant to the chapel’s brightness. But those outside could watch and see how as each lanterned entered the building, the glow became brighter.

Listen, beloved. Your light matters. You may not see it, but it does. When your light is missing the glow isn’t as bright. What part do you play in the body of Christ? Carl, I don’t have a very big part at all. I’m not a singer or a preacher or a teacher. Don’t discount your role in the body. If you are a follower of Christ, He has gifted you with a role in the body. If you don’t know what that is, take a Spiritual Gift Inventory to see just how He has gifted you. Ask Him to show you.

Let me close by sharing what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31. “27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.”

Father, I want to serve as You have gifted me. I am thankful for how You have put the Body of Christ together.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Jesus, Likeness, Resurrection, Scripture, Unity

LOOK ALIKES

ROMANS 6:5

“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,”

My little grandson looks like both of his parents. One day he looks more like his dad and other days like his mom. It will be interesting to watch him grow and develop to see who he really looks like. His little sister will be here shortly, and we will see who she resembles. We already know from the ultrasounds that she has a head full of hair unlike her big brother whose hair is just now getting full.

But Paul isn’t talking about physical resemblances. The word he uses here for “likeness” is homoióma which “expresses the idea of something that corresponds to, represents, or resembles another reality.” (Topical Lexicon) Four of the six times the word is used in the New Testament are in Romans. We’ve already seen two of those (Romans 1:23 and 5:14). Paul uses it again in Romans 8:3 in a negative way when he writes, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…”

APPLICATION

I referenced Philippians 2:7 in an earlier blog where this word is used again. There it describes Jesus “being made in the likeness of men.” I want you to stop and think about this for a second. Christ came in the likeness of mankind in order to pay the ultimate price for OUR sin, not His. Even though He was 100% man, He was also 100% God. He was the God Man sent from the Father to redeem us. Praise the Lord!

Are you walking in His likeness today? When people see you out in the public, or better yet, driving down the highway, do they see Jesus? We have been raised to walk in newness of life because of His resurrection and are supposed to be looking like Him. I have to admit that sometimes I am not the least bit looking like Jesus. I allow the worries of this life weigh me down. Jesus never worried, so neither should I.

When you look in the mirror today to brush or comb your hair, ask yourself if you look like Jesus. Of course, I don’t mean your physical appearance. I mean do you reflect His manner of living here on this earth. He lived a sinless life and commands us to live holy lives also. Choose today whose likeness you will bear – your own sinful self or Jesus’ likeness.

Lord God, continue to make me look more and more like Jesus in how I talk and act.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

Standard
Bible, Harmony, Mind, Scripture, Unity, Witness

LIVE IN HARMONY

PHILIPPIANS 4:2

“I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.”

The current riots in Los Angeles reminds me of the 1992 riots that took place after police officers accused of assaulting a man named Rodney King were acquitted of the charges. The city erupted in chaos and violence and wanted vengeance on those officers. Disharmony has gone on for a long time. It’s no wonder we see this mentioned in today’s verse.

Two women, Euodia and Syntyche, were obviously not getting along well. Can you imagine how they might have felt when they heard their names read aloud in church when this letter was shared? Paul must have known them well or he would not have called them out for their behavior. He wasn’t trying to humiliate them. He only wanted them to live in such a manner that others in the community would see Christ in them.

APPLICATION

So, what exactly did Paul mean when he said, “to live in harmony in the Lord”? Let’s look at what Albert Barnes said about these two ladies. “It has been commonly supposed that they were deaconesses, who preached the gospel to those of their own sex; but there is no certain evidence of this. All that is known is, that there was some disagreement between them, and the apostle entreats them to be reconciled to each other… Whether the difference related to doctrine, or to something else, we cannot determine from this phrase. The language is such as would properly relate to any difference.”

The key to this reconciliation is in the last three words – “in the Lord.” We can reconcile with people all day long, but unless it is in view of the Lord’s teachings, it will not last. Undoubtedly, these were two professing followers of Christ. Because of that fact, Paul tells them to reconcile. Actually, the Greek reads “be of the same mind.” Work things out. Get your stuff together.

Who are you at odds with today? We can all probably name one or two people with whom we have fallen out for one reason or the other. Paul’s instructions to these ladies applies to us as well. I am not saying to try to make it work with someone who is toxic and hurtful to you. But, if at all possible, be at peace with everyone, especially other believers.

Lord, it’s hard sometimes to be of the same mind with others. Give me Your view of them so I can show grace where needed.

Standard
Bible, Joy, Love, Purpose, Scripture, Unity

HOW TO MAKE COMPLETE JOY

PHILIPPIANS 2:2

“make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

I really like making people feel full of joy. That might be done by surprising them with a gift or a special treat. It might be done by saying the right thing at the right time. It might be done by just showing up unexpectedly. However it is done, the expression on their face also gives me joy. You see, I receive joy by giving joy.

Paul is asking the Philippians to make him full of joy by doing some things to and for each other. Their efforts weren’t directed at him, per say, but he received joy in hearing of their treatment towards each other. Isn’t that what a mentor wants? He or she wants to see them live out what they have been taught. Let’s look at what Paul was asking.

APPLICATION

First of all, he says he wants them to be “of the same mind.” The Greek word here can actually mean to care for or to seek. Paul was asking them to truly think about each other and what was best for each other. It was a heart thing, not just a mind thing.

Then Paul asks them to maintain the same love. The original language literally says “having the same love.” What did that mean? Well, the key is the word “love.” It is the agape love which we know is God’s benevolent love. That love is always looking out for what is best for the other person. It’s a giving love, a sacrificial love.

Next, Paul asks them to be “united in spirit.” The Greek word here is sumpsuchos which is only used right here. Stong’s Lexicon says this, “Sumpsuchos is used to describe a unity of spirit or being of one mind. It conveys the idea of being in full accord or having a shared purpose and mindset. In the New Testament, it is often used to encourage believers to maintain unity and harmony within the body of Christ, reflecting a collective commitment to the teachings and mission of Jesus.”

Finally, Paul says for the Philippians to be “intent on one purpose.” What you don’t see in the English is Paul uses the exact same word he used earlier when he said to have the same mind. He must have really wanted to stress this point. Be like-minded. Agree on a purpose. Work together.

When we do these things we bring joy to our mentors, but we also bring joy to the Lord. Can you spread joy today? Do these things and you too will be full of joy.

Father, help me today to spread the joy of Jesus in the way I treat others.

Standard
Allies, Alone, Battles, Bible, Completeness, Scripture, Together, Unity

WE CAN DO MORE TOGETHER

EPHESIANS 4:16

“from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”

When I was in college I played a little intramural sports. I love football, so the thought of playing some flag football seemed harmless enough. However, near the end of the season, during one of the games I made a diving leap (I was much younger back then, lol) to grab the flag of the passing runner. I missed and landed with my right arm outstretched. It hurt, but I kept playing. By the next morning, I could not even raise my arm to wash my hair. After visiting the college infirmary, I found out I had separated my shoulder. My point – my arm could not work separated from my body.

In today’s verse, Paul uses a word that he used earlier back in chapter 2, verse 21. These are the only two places this word is used in the New Testament. The word is sunarmologeó and means to be joined closely with something. Remember, Paul is speaking about the body of Christ and the importance of each member of that body. This analogy of our human body described in this verse is so perfect to paint the picture Paul was trying to portray.

APPLICATION

If you have read many of my blogs, you know I love to quote Albert Barnes, a theologian who ministered in the 1800’s. He describes this phrase this way. “The foot, for instance, is in its proper place. It should not be where the head or the hand is. The eye is in its proper place. It should not be in the knee or the heel. The mouth, the tongue, the teeth, the lungs, the heart, are in their proper places. No other places would answer the purpose so well. The brain is in its proper place. Anywhere else in the body, it would be subject to compressions and injuries which would soon destroy life.”

Paul goes on in today’s verse and says, “held together.” It is the word, sumbibazó, which means to unite or knit together. The body of Christ has a purpose which requires us to work together. I love how Paul uses this word in Colossians 2:2. “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love,” I think you get the picture.

It’s always easier to try to go the Lone Ranger route and just do it yourself. But we are expected as believers to work together to achieve the Lord’s purpose. The business world would call that synergy which is “the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.” We can accomplish more together.

Father, thank You for faithful brothers and sisters with whom I can work to achieve more for Your kingdom.

Standard