The Purpose Driven Life(46)

We can reestablish a relationship even when we are unable to resolve our differences. Christians often have legitimate, honest disagreements and differing opinions, but we can disagree without being disagreeable. The same diamond looks different from different angles. God expects unity, not uniformity, and we can walk arm-in-arm without seeing eye-to-eye on every issue.

This doesn’t mean you give up on finding a solution. You may need to continue discussing and even debating—but you do it in a spirit of harmony. Reconciliation means you bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue.


Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem.



Who do you need to contact as a result of this chapter? With whom do you need to restore fellowship? Don’t delay another second. Pause right now and talk to God about that person. Then pick up the phone and begin the process. These seven steps are simple, but they are not easy. It takes a lot of effort to restore a relationship. That’s why Peter urged, “Work hard at living in peace with others.”26 But when you work for peace, you are doing what God would do. That’s why God calls peacemakers his children.27


DAY TWENTY

THINKING ABOUT MY PURPOSE





Point to Ponder: Relationships are always worth restoring.





Verse to Remember: “Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.”

Romans 12:18 (TEV)





Question to Consider: Who do I need to restore a broken relationship with today?





21

Protecting Your Church


You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.

Ephesians 4:3 (NCV)





Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:14 (LB)





It is your job to protect the unity of your church.

Unity in the church is so important that the New Testament gives more attention to it than to either heaven or hell. God deeply desires that we experience oneness and harmony with each other.

Unity is the soul of fellowship. Destroy it, and you rip the heart out of Christ’s Body. It is the essence, the core, of how God intends for us to experience life together in his church. Our supreme model for unity is the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are completely unified as one. God himself is the highest example of sacrificial love, humble other-centeredness, and perfect harmony.

Just like every parent, our heavenly Father enjoys watching his children get along with each other. In his final moments before being arrested, Jesus prayed passionately for our unity.1 It was our unity that was uppermost in his mind during those agonizing hours. That shows how significant this subject is.


Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than his church.



Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than his church. He paid the highest price for it, and he wants it protected, especially from the devastating damage that is caused by division, conflict, and disharmony. If you are a part of God’s family, it is your responsibility to protect the unity where you fellowship. You are commissioned by Jesus Christ to do everything possible to preserve the unity, protect the fellowship, and promote harmony in your church family and among all believers. The Bible says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”2 How are we to do this? The Bible gives us practical advice.

Focus on what we have in common, not our differences. Paul tells us, “Let us concentrate on the things which make for harmony, and on the growth of one another’s character.”3 As believers we share one Lord, one body, one purpose, one Father, one Spirit, one hope, one faith, one baptism, and one love.4 We share the same salvation, the same life, and the same future—factors far more important than any differences we could enumerate. These are the issues, not our personal differences, that we should concentrate on.

We must remember that it was God who chose to give us different personalities, backgrounds, races, and preferences, so we should value and enjoy those differences, not merely tolerate them. God wants unity, not uniformity. But for unity’s sake we must never let differences divide us. We must stay focused on what matters most—learning to love each other as Christ has loved us, and fulfilling God’s five purposes for each of us and his church.

Conflict is usually a sign that the focus has shifted to less important issues, things the Bible calls “disputable matters.”5 When we focus on personalities, preferences, interpretations, styles, or methods, division always happens. But if we concentrate on loving each other and fulfilling God’s purposes, harmony results. Paul pleaded for this: “Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”6