Singularity of Vision: Unity

Unity is surely the hot catch word within today's Christian circles.  And while the concept of unity is undoubtedly of importance, I think perhaps we have allowed the ideal to shape our vision, rather than constructing an anchor of singular vision to ensure unity.

We spend so much time talking about unity, creating space to hear from the Spirit on the subject of unity, taking time to develop our idea of unity...and in the meantime, our vision lays dormant on the sidelines. We lessen our threat to the Evil One with our inaction and he has a good laugh.  While most of us have the best intentions at heart, the truth remains that we sit still...we sit still trying to create unity from our own means and we forget why we are together in the first place: To know God and to make him known to others. 

When we are actively seeking to know God and actively engaging in project to make him known to others, we place God as our Leader and our vision becomes singular, thus artistically following God's intended design of unity, itself. Think about it..how did Jesus go about choosing and developing his disciples? Did he spend months...years...fostering unity among the twelve, casting purpose and vision aside to "create" unity? Not so much! Here is Jesus' strategy. He calls to one...tells another stranger to join and then another...and before you know it, there are his twelve.  I can picture Simon Peter glancing to his left and wondering who the heck is this, James, guy? Or John pondering how this newly and seemingly haphazardly formed group could come together cohesively...they joined to know God. In so doing...they made God known to others. Their passion to know God and urgently follow in his footsteps...out of their comfort zones, amidst a group of great personalities and clashing backgrounds...led to who we now know as "The Twelve Disciples of Jesus". 

The term disciple refers to running after God...with all that we are. That is our singular purpose and vision, Christ himself. Unity naturally flows forth and greatness emerges. Inaction does not frighten Satan...in fact, he is satisfied and will leave us Christians to just that, for we will not grow the Kingdom of Christ while standing still.  Lets replace our vision for unity with the vision of becoming disciples, ourselves, picking up our feet and placing them into the boots of our forerunners, John, James, Peter, Paul...They followed their Leader and they became unified. Glory to God and him alone! 

How do we see the Kingdom come down to earth? We create opportunity for Christ to act. We take ourselves...and all of our insecurities, our confining and self-constructed boxes of faith...and we lay them aside. Watch God put on his show...See his glory manifest in ways we never could have imagined, never mind created! It is our job to place our faith and trust in Christ as the Head. He will unify...he will show up! 

***Thy kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread*** ("Daily"---implying we are constantly in need and dependent on Jehova Jirah, our Provider)