In Acts 10:17 is says that Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision he had might be. The voice in the vision said to kill and eat all kinds of unclean animals, creatures and birds. Peter said that by no means Lord would he ever eat anything unholy and unclean. Peter knew it wasn’t about diet but it took him ten years later to figure it out. Peter was still a Torah observant Jew. He preached that God’s grace had come to the Jew and Gentile, but he did not know it was about people until he went to Cornelius’ house. Peter thought it was unlawful for a Jew to come near a gentile, but it was strictly a tradition. He saw what God had done in Cornelius’ house and realized it was about people and he then changed the way he evangelized. He realized God wanted unity with Jew and Gentile.
Paul, in Ephesians 2 confirmed that God desired to make the two (Jew and Gentile) into one new man, thus establishing peace by putting death to the enmity between them. For through Christ we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Paul continued in this thought process of unity in Ephesians 3 and 4.
Ephesians 4:1-3, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worth of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
We seem to have divisions In our culture today over denominational differences. We get angry and dismiss people who disagree with us, or dismiss others who can’t relate to what we’ve walked through. Paul allowed for a healthy debate. Differences of opinion were not a problem. We think unity is being conformed to what “I” believe.
Paul exhorts us to walk worthily of our calling with humility and meekness; with long-suffering, bearing with one another with love, and being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. What a challenge!
The enemy wants us to kill, steal, and destroy but also divide and cause strife. God is looking for a group of believers that can walk in love, be strong, fight but communicate with a unity of peace. That seems to be a tremendous challenge in 2020; however, that is what our calling is. Challenging? Yes. Impossible? No. It’s part of the Great Commission that Jesus called us to.
Lord, we thank you for giving us the grace, revelation, patience, and communication skills to release your love and spirit of unity to others, especially during this season!
In His Covenant Love,
