Reflecting on the aspect of unity of the people of God before the world it is essential that each saint is personally aware of his position in Jesus Christ and of his personal affiliation in the respective fellowship of saints (note: locally or in his region).
The People Of Israel And The Body Of Christ
The alignment of the people of Israel at the time of Moses should serve as an example, consisting of twelve individual tribes divided by Moses into four units of three tribes in a certain direction by God's instruction (see Numbers 2).
The apostle Paul used the image of the human body (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27) in connection with the different fields of responsibility and the importance of unity within the Body of Christ.
The People Of Israel And The Body Of Christ
The alignment of the people of Israel at the time of Moses should serve as an example, consisting of twelve individual tribes divided by Moses into four units of three tribes in a certain direction by God's instruction (see Numbers 2).
The apostle Paul used the image of the human body (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27) in connection with the different fields of responsibility and the importance of unity within the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27:
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Faithfulness To The Assigned Community Of Saints
In order to see the unity of God's people being properly recognized, it is crucial that one shows loyalty to the community of saints with whom one is territorial aligned. This faithfulness can be recognized, among other things, in the fact that a believer continuously participates in the meetings of the assigned fellowship, which also provides protection for each individual (see Hebrews 10:24-25).
Hebrews 10:24-25:
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
God has chosen us regardless of our works by grace, which is only active through faith (see Ephesians 2:8-10).
Ephesians 2:8-10:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God's grace should be our motivation to walk in the light (note: truth, truthfulness) and in the unit that is given to us by Him, so that His love for the people of our environment or in society can be recognized (see John 13:34-35).
John 13:34-35:
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The Requirement Of True Unity
Unity within the people of God is the required key for God to act in order to entrust us to receive more of Him as one unit. God can only call us a formation as believers in Jesus Christ if we fulfill the basis for being “one people”, presupposing unity and cohesiveness.
If, however, we do not fully position ourselves in the respective formation within the Body of Christ, it becomes clearly obvious that we do follow our own beliefs and ideas. Then the result will be also that we do not want to be truly led by anyone but ourselves.
And if someone doesn't feel sincerely connected within the assembly, this can be reflected in the behavior of being absent at events and meetings.
Where the (note: remarkably frequent, repeated) absence of a believer is conspicuous, the sense of duty towards the community is neglected, so that one is not therefore a bearer of the voice of the community.
Unity within the people of God is the required key for God to act in order to entrust us to receive more of Him as one unit. God can only call us a formation as believers in Jesus Christ if we fulfill the basis for being “one people”, presupposing unity and cohesiveness.
If, however, we do not fully position ourselves in the respective formation within the Body of Christ, it becomes clearly obvious that we do follow our own beliefs and ideas. Then the result will be also that we do not want to be truly led by anyone but ourselves.
And if someone doesn't feel sincerely connected within the assembly, this can be reflected in the behavior of being absent at events and meetings.
Where the (note: remarkably frequent, repeated) absence of a believer is conspicuous, the sense of duty towards the community is neglected, so that one is not therefore a bearer of the voice of the community.
The Sign Of Absence
If this consciously lived absence gets cultivated, the sense of cohesiveness or “being one people” of the respective fellowship is questioned, so that the Lord cannot lead these persons into the promise of the community or ministry.
Faithfulness And Obedience Of The Rekabites
In connection with the importance of faithfulness, I would like to mention the lifestyle of the Rekabites at the time of the prophet Jeremiah. The LORD commanded Jeremiah to bring wine into the house of God for the Rekabites to drink, but they refused.
The reason for them was that their deceased leader Jehonadab, the son of Rekab, instructed them among other things not to drink wine (see Jeremiah 35:1-8).
Jeremiah 35:1-8:
1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: 2 “Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.”
3 So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons – the whole family of the Rekabites.
4 I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the room of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah the man of God. It was next to the room of the officials, which was over that of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper.
5 Then I set bowls full of wine and some cups before the Rekabites and said to them, “Drink some wine.”
6 But they replied, “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine.
7 Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.’
8 We have obeyed everything our forefather Jehonadab son of Rekab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine …
The exemplary faithfulness and loyalty of the Rekabites to their deceased leader, whom they recognized as their father, prompted God to send the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Israel to visualize them their faithfulness and obedience, as to make clear to them the result of loyalty and disloyalty (see Jeremiah 35:12-14.17-19).
Jeremiah 35:12-14.17-19:
12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 13 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord.
14 ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab ordered his descendants not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. …
17 “Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.’ ”
18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’
19 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’ ”
Therefore, it is God who is the same yesterday, today and forever (see Isaiah 41:4 i.c.w. Hebrews 13:8) who obviously cares much about that we as His chosen ones are faithful and obedient (note: an expression of love; see John 14:21) to Him as LORD OF HOSTS by constantly following Him and living according to His ordinances.
As a result of this faithful lifestyle, the Lord goes ahead and becomes the breakthrough (see Proverbs 3:3a i.c.w. Micah 2:13).
Proverbs 3:3a:
3a Let love and faithfulness never leave you; …
Micah 2:13:
13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.”
The manifestation of God's leading is only taking place where the willingness to be instructed by Him is found in a constant and authentic way of living. So, if someone joins a community of saints this should purposely happen by one's sincere decision making in connection with one's own commitment.
Otherwise, it is necessary to check whether for any reason one has a wrong/twisted attitude and therefore should be corrected, because God delights in our sincere and trustworthy way of going ahead in obedience (see Proverbs 11:20).
Proverbs 11:20:
20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse (note: twisted), but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
Since there are no “lone fighters” in the kingdom, but only units (note: resulting from unity and obedience) according to the functions within the human body, God's majesty, strength and beauty of His being will only become visible if saints do live sincerely submitted to Him, His ordained times, orders and to one another.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
