“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)
God is more team oriented, than we may realize, which is revealed throughout His creation. He created teams before He created human beings. He made heavenly beings and creatures who work in teams. He made the solar system with planets that travel as a team, in rotation around the sun. There are teams of stars that stay within the cycle of their constellation, as God designed it. He made teams of fish, flocks of birds, packs of wolves, herds of mammals, and even insects that work within colonies. God’s entire creation works as a team of some kind, so what is He trying to tell us ?
The first human team begins in a marriage, and expands to family. There are teams of friendship, teams of churches, civil communities, and every single nation is a team, as is the whole earth. God intended for human teams to live in unity, but even when people fail to cooperate and mess up the plan, God patiently readjusts the plan. He is like a great coach who totally believes in his team, and will keep coaching, training and encouraging them, until leading them to success.
A team of three angels were sent to Abraham, to announce that he would Father a son, in his old age, and start an entirely new nation. Abraham’s grandson Jacob, had twelve sons, and God planned for all twelve to be a team of twelve tribes. God’s plans are always good, but He also gave everyone free will. Division and jealousy among the twelve brothers, led them to sell their younger brother Joseph, to slave traders, breaking up the team that God put together.
Scripture gives examples of how God continues working with His people, even when His original plans get messed up. Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, ended up promoted to second in command of Egypt, forgiving his brothers and becoming a team with them again. It proves that God can turn any mess into a miracle.
Jesus came into the world, born into a team called the tribe of Judah. He later formed His own team of chosen disciples, who were not considered the most likely men to succeed. Just like the twelve sons of Jacob, the twelve apostles were imperfect men with prejudices, faults, and failures, but God never gives up on anyone. The Holy Spirit changes hearts, and by faith transformed them into men of courage, who spread the gospel as a team throughout the earth.
Plans fail because people fail to cooperate, but when anyone calls upon the Lord, He hears, saves and provides a new path for them. Because He loves us, He always regathers us, and by His grace, He establishes us with many chances, re-strengthening our faith each time.
We are all part of a large team today, a world wide team of believers, made up of imperfect men and women, from every nation, race and culture. There are differences in doctrine, but our common belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior, is the bond of unity of the church team throughout the world. Looking at our human faith history, it seems apparent that God always has a plan, a purpose and a team to carry it out.
The bond of unity is essential, whether it is in the team of marriage, family, the church or our nation. Since the beginning of time, spiritual forces of darkness have tried to divide and deceive the human teams God created. Paul taught that we cannot fight spiritual battles with physical weapons, which means we need to put on spiritual armor. That armor includes a helmet of salvation, a shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
The helmet of salvation protects our mind with truth, and keeps us alert to who and what saves us. A shield of faith protects our hearts, to keep it from being weighed down, with fear, worry and doubt.
While one hand holds the shield, the other hand holds the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, His truth in scripture. Jesus responded to every temptation in the desert by reciting scripture. God gave us scripture, not only as a sword to divide lies from truth, but as a spiritual scalpel that therapeutically purges our psyche, and brings healing deep within our spirit. (Hebrews 4:12)
We are a redeemed people, and we have armor to wear, so let’s put it on and walk in the unity of the Spirit. God is waiting for us to let Him make a miracle out of every mess. In spite of the difficulties that exist within the teams of this world, Jesus can restore, redeem, re-unify and be the Lord of every life and every team.
Lord, thank you for the grace of new chances, forgiving, healing and restoring teams to peace and unity. Help us to make our own effort to keep the bond of unity within our teams. Amen
