The Fruit of the Spirit: Loveنموونە

Love Leads to Unity

The basis of unity in Christ is expressed in these four ways: encouragement from belonging to Christ, the comfort of his love, fellowship in the Holy Spirit, and a loving and compassionate heart. We learn that these could have also been translated into statements in the Greek language. Since there is encouragement from belonging to Christ, comfort from His love, and fellowship in the Spirit, our hearts are tender and compassionate, which takes away any doubts that the “if” statements could convey.

These statements are only true because of the agape love expression of Christ for the world, for us. Christ’s love leads us back to the Father, who is love, and being in His presence leads us into unity. We love because He first loved us; from this love, we can enter the unity Paul calls for in verse two. The unity in identity in Christ and the purpose we live for is crucial for the gospel’s effectiveness. That is why Jesus prayed for unity in John 17:21, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” Again, in verse 23, our Lord prays, “I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” It is our privilege to enter this unity through the love of Christ and see this agape love worked out into the unity of the believers so that the world sees the love of God for them.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I long for unity with my brothers and sisters as I have entered your love. Today, I pray we will be one because we are united in you. I pray that the world will see how much our Father loves them through us.