Strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of the Spirit in the binding power of peace.
(Ephesians 4:3 AMP)
Oneness in Christ as a Body fitly framed together is what is portrayed. How
is this perfect unity reached? By all that is individual and personal being
left, by the Lord being the focal center, and by our giving diligence to
maintain the unity in that way; keeping all personal things out, and keeping
Christ and His interests always in view.... This is not visionary,
imaginative, or merely idealistic, it is very practical. You and I will discover
that there are working elements of divisiveness, things creeping in amongst us
to set us apart. The enemy is always seeking to do that, and the things that
rise up to get in between the Lord's people and put up a barrier are countless;
a sense of strain and of distance, for example, of discord and of unrelatedness.
Sometimes they are more of an abstract character; that is, you can never lay
your hand upon them and explain them, and say what they are; it is just a sense
of something. Sometimes it is more positive, a distinct and definite
misunderstanding, a misinterpretation of something said or done, something laid
hold of; and of course, it is always exaggerated by the enemy.
How is that kind of thing to be dealt with in order to keep the unity of the
Spirit? Rightly, adequately on this basis alone, by our saying: "This is not to
the Lord's interests; this can never be of value to the Lord; this can never be
to His glory and satisfaction; this can only mean injury to the Lord." What I
may feel in the matter is not the vital consideration. I may even be the wronged
party, but am I going to feel wronged and hurt? Am I going to stand on my
dignity? Am I going to shut myself up and go away, because I have been wronged?
That is how nature would have it, but I must take this attitude: "The Lord
stands to lose, the Lord's Name stands to suffer, the Lord's interests are
involved in this; I must get on top of this; I must get the better of this; I
must shake this thing off and not allow it to affect my attitude, my conduct, my
feelings toward this brother or sister!" There must be the putting aside of that
which we feel,
and even of our rights for the Lord's sake, and a getting on top of this enemy
effort to injure the Lord's testimony. That is giving diligence to keep the
unity.... Life is by
unity, and unity can only adequately be found in Christ being in His place as
the One for whom we let go everything that is personal. We might not do it for
the sake of anyone else. We might never do it for the sake of the person in
view. We do it for His sake, and the enemy is defeated.