The Tie That Binds

By Danny Saavedra

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 15:5–6 (NIV)

What does it take to experience unity? What does it take to put aside individual agendas and ambitions, personal preferences and philosophies, in favor of the collective mission and unified voice? How do you bring a group of diverse people together under a single accord? Well...you can’t!

I’m just being fully honest here. You can’t; I can’t; we can’t. Even when you have what seems to be a unified vision and collective, there will always be individual agendas and philosophical differences in approach.

Consider for a moment the X-Men: This immensely popular comic book property, which also happens to be a social commentary and allegory for the civil rights movement, revolved around two key leaders, Professor X and Magneto (representing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, respectively), and their fight for mutantkind. Both characters were united in their desire for mutants to live in a world where they weren’t mistreated, discriminated against, and hated, but their approaches were different.

Again, it’s impossible for humanity to experience real unity because what’s necessary for real unity is God! It’s only by the power of God that we can walk in unity by His Spirit, His mind, His will, and His Word. Notice that in this passage, the apostle Paul is essentially praying that God, who freely gives endurance (patience) and encouragement (comfort) — which are otherworldly characteristics that don’t originate in us — prays we would have “the same attitude of mind” toward each other that Christ Jesus had towards us. That’s the true key to experiencing unity: the mind of Christ. And what was that mind? To take “the very nature of a servant,” to humble Himself (Philippians 2:7–8 NIV). What was His driving force and attitude? “For the joy set before him he endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).

Unity can only come through the sanctifying power of God’s Spirit which changes our hearts, minds, characters, nature, and will and makes us more like Jesus. Consider Colossians 3:12–14 (NIV, emphases added): “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Paul mentions various fruits of the Spirit which will grow in our lives as we actively pursue Christ. However, after listing these things, Paul expresses that above them all, we must put on love because it’s the perfect bond of unity.

Now, I want you to think about something: Think of the greatest world leader you can, past or present, it doesn’t matter. Did that person bring complete unity and world peace? No! The reason even the noblest of human causes and most dynamic human leaders ultimately fail to bring true unity is that these causes are driven by individuals with their own hearts, minds, and wills. But with our mission, with our kingdom cause, we share one heart, mind, and will because we all have the same Holy Spirit that indwells us and brings us into this beautiful unity.

Thus, as we collectively become more attuned to the Holy Spirit’s voice, as we are continually conformed to the image of Christ, as we abide in Christ and receive endurance and encouragement to walk in the will of God, “with one mind and one voice,” we can live and breathe the mission as one and draw people to the gospel as we stand firmly together, bound by the unbreakable love of Christ! This is how we will “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Pause: Why do we need the endurance and encouragement that God provides in order to walk in unity?

Practice: Unity comes through the Spirit; through the sanctifying work of the Spirit in us. This week, craft a plan around engaging in spiritual disciplines to help you grow deeper in your relationship with Jesus and become more like Him.

Pray: Father, I pray You would, by Your Holy Spirit, draw me deeper into intimacy with You. Help me become a little more like Jesus today than I was yesterday. Help me abide more in Him so I may be able to walk in greater unity with my fellow brothers and sisters in our common faith. Amen.