The Foundation that Unifies
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.” Luke 11:17
The people were questioning the power source of Jesus. He used this as an opportunity to emphasize what has and will always be true. Division tears apart (fill in the blank). Family, marriages, churches, friends, teams, partnerships, businesses, you name it and the culprit of demise is division.
At the foundation of any fruitful unit is a common purpose, a common truth, a common mission. This core commonality is ultimately what drives unity. Without this strong base, this strong foundation, a kingdom will fall, a marriage will break apart, a business will crumble, a team will not be victorious.
Division took down the Israelites when God led them out of slavery in Egypt. Only two of the estimated millions of people actually entered the promised land. Division was always at risk of breaking up the disciples following Christ, as pride constantly entered the conversation about who was the greatest. Throughout history, division has crumbled countless relationships, from governments to marriages. The foundation of division is always pride and selfishness, both of what every person on earth has in them.
On the other hand, unity is driven by selflessness created when people are bound by something greater than themselves. Unity is driven by a common purpose, a common mission, a common truth as the foundation. Many differences of opinion can and should exist, but, at the end of the day, the core common purpose is the glue that binds.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27
A rock solid foundation, purpose, mission, truth is the word of God. This truth is like glue in a relationship. A strand of three cords is not easily broken. Will risk of division exist? Certainly, as we are human. However, all disagreements, selfishness, and pride that ultimately lead to division will be reconciled by the underlying common purpose, the common mission. The foundation of truth unifies.
Is any relationship in your life at risk of division today? Go to the foundation where grace is the key ingredient. This is the only foundation that absolutely unifies.
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