Unity

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

- 1 Peter 2:4-9

Peter reminds disciples that they are chosen as a group together. He calls us a race, a priesthood, a nation, and a possession. Although Jesus saves us individually, he will return for his bride, the Church. We exist together to witness his marvelous light into the world. When we pull apart from one another, we diminish. Unfortunately, the Church keeps pulling itself apart over multiple issues.

Do you practice your faith with others within the body of Christ, the Church? Being together creates built-in accountability, fellowship, a group to explore the Bible with, a community of prayer and of serving. A Christian alone is an oxymoron as Jesus gave his life for us to be together. He prayed to the Father for our unity:

“I do not ask for these [his current disciples] only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just 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 have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:20-23)

Prayer

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teachings, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.