The Gift of Unity

By Sharon Gauthier

Chicago, Illinois – USA

Scriptures:

• John 17:20-23
• Romans 15:1-7
• Ephesians 2:14-18
• Ephesians 4:2-3

In the ideal world portrayed in movies, songs and greeting cards, Christmas is a season of coming together in unity. Personally, I love bingeing on the Christmas movies that always end with families and friends gathered around the dinner table laughing and smiling and eating together in perfect harmony. But in the real world, the season does not always exude such amity. 

Living in a large metropolitan area, I often hear drivers honking their car horns in ire at other drivers or even pedestrians. I see shoppers rushing rudely to get in front of others in the checkout lines. I see couples bickering in the grocery store over what they should buy for dinner. I see children throwing temper tantrums when mommy or daddy won’t purchase what they want.

In essence, I see the opposite of unity. And sadly, if I’m completely honest with myself, I too can be one of those unruly voices shattering the blissful facade of holiday cheer.

But thanks be to God, He gave us the perfect Christmas gift to rescue us from this spiral of selfishness, chaos, and division. He gave us unity in Christ!

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John 17:20-23

In sending His Son Jesus to this earth, the Father gave us a perfect, living, breathing example of what unity looks like. In Jesus’ prayer in John 17, Jesus acknowledged that He and the Father are “one.” He continued by praying that His followers (even including those of us living today!) would share in the oneness with God and each other that Jesus and the Father eternally experience.

Oneness. What does that mean? Does it mean that we must think alike and act alike and have the same opinions on every issue? It’s hard to believe that is the case, because even though Jesus and the Father were perfectly one, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus still expressed His feelings to the Father and asked that “this cup be taken from me” (Matthew 26:39). However, the amazing unity of Father and Son shone through as Jesus concluded, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Through His incomprehensible grace, God allows us to have our own thoughts and opinions. He even allows us to express ourselves in raw, heart-level terms. Just read through the Psalms and you’ll see plenty of examples of unfiltered emotion.

But what God does call us to be is unified with Him; and thus, to be unified with one another on what really matters. He calls us to cut through the weeds of sin that separate us and forge a path to reconciliation and harmony. Being unified takes work and action on our part.

This makes me think back to a time quite a few years ago when I was constantly at odds with the women’s ministry leader at my church. (Because I was a full-time women’s minister there, she was also my boss!) Somehow our personalities didn’t seem to “click.” On many occasions, after meeting with her I would go home to my husband and complain about our interaction or about things I didn’t like about her.

On one of those occasions, my emotions were especially strong. My husband suggested that we take a drive so that I could cool off and clear my mind. As he quietly drove and I continued venting, I slowly noticed that the route we were taking seemed to be very familiar. Soon it dawned on me—we were headed to her house!

Upon arriving, my husband explained to the women’s ministry leader and her husband (and to me!) that there was disunity between the two of us and that I needed to sit down with her and work things out. As the husbands headed to another room, she and I sat down to talk.

At first, I was embarrassed (and a little miffed at my husband for taking me there). But as we began to talk, I opened up about all that I was feeling. Everything I had spouted out to my husband, I now told to her. She sat quietly and let me talk. As I poured out my grievances, it was like Jesus’ light began to shine on my words. I could clearly see the ugliness in my heart. Yes, there were things that each of us could change; and we vowed to change. But I was both startled and grateful to see what was really inside of me. 

After what seemed like hours of talking and an outpouring of bucketloads of tears, she and I hugged each other tightly with free and pure hearts. From that day forward, that sister became one of my dearest friends and one of the women I most love and respect. It’s been more than 31 years since that life-changing conversation, but I praise God that my wise and loving husband refused to let me wallow in disunity and divisiveness. 

Ephesians 2:14 says that Jesus is our peace. He brings opposites together in harmony and peace. The gift of unity in Jesus gives us the ability to break through the iron walls of opinion, cultural differences, language barriers, racial strife, historical hurts, age and gender gaps, misunderstandings, miscommunications, and sin; and see Jesus in one another and thus embrace the Holy Spirit who makes us one.

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Ephesians 2:15b-16 (NIV)

Questions for Reflection:

1. Reread John 17:20-23. How would you describe “complete unity” (vs. 23)?

2. Reread Romans 15:1-3. According to this passage, what are some of the ways we can build unity with one another? Is there any word or phrase that stands out to you personally as something you can work on in your life?

3. Reread Ephesians 2:14-18. What stands out to you in this passage? How do you think the cross puts to death any hostility we may have with one another?

Today I Will:

Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Think through your relationships in the church. Is there any sister or brother you need to make peace with? What is an “effort” you can put forth to begin the process of peacemaking? Try beginning today!

About the Author:

Sharon Gauthier is a women’s ministry leader and elder’s wife in the Chicago Church of Christ. She and her husband, Darren, have served in the full-time ministry for more than 33 years. They have an adult daughter, Camille, and son, Carson, who are both part of the singles’ young professional ministry in the Chicago Church. During the holiday season, Sharon loves sipping hot cider and cuddling up with her husband to watch Christmas movies.