December 12 – Unity in Love

But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:13-23 

Perfected in unity. In 1st Corinthians Paul writes about unity in the church.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. ... whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20, 24-26

Here the unity of the body is diversified—but all parts are essential to the function of the whole body. So it is with the “body” of the church. We need unity to exist in a positive and encouraging way. We are supposed to be encouraging to our church families—and even more to our own families.

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13

May I encourage you with the words written to children and fathers in Ephesians 6:1-4?

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

These words may not seem very encouraging some days when your three year old is talking back or even hitting you. But keep on keeping on—disciplining them will drive out that obstinate sinful nature. There are at least 38 verses in the Bible dealing with discipline and there is especially a lot of wisdom in Proverbs.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline will remove it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

A wise son accepts his father's discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. - Proverbs 13:1

Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. Proverbs 23:13

Three year olds, like Isaac and Liberty, know when they’ve done wrong—and they so want to please their parents…and God. If they get away with their own selfish desires and think that they can “be right” in their own eyes now…then down the road when they are older it will be much harder to convince them to do the right thing, to listen and obey. Obedience and attitude are the keys. 

You can see the face of these three year olds scowling when they know they’ve made the wrong decision. An almost evil look in their eyes, with a wrinkled brow and a sadly smug frown. When they’ve said their “sorry” and are right with others and God—once again their little cherub faces glow. It is like a miracle has happened. It is a miracle—the grace of God has rescued them from themselves. Good job, Dad and Mom, on disciplining and teaching your little one to make good decisions, to apologize and to seek forgiveness. Your obedience and attitude to consistently teach them to do the right thing—to listen and obey—is the best example that they could have. Keep up the good work. Feast on God’s word as it creates unity in your home. 

Dear Jesus—You are such an awesome example of obedience. Create unity in our families with the loving discipline of obedience. May those we come in contact with this week be able to see Your love in us…and may they feel that perfect peace, joy and love that only can come from You.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).