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Unity Mark 10: 42-45
The apostle Paul traveled from community to community introducing the love of Jesus Christ. People that were introduced to examples of Christ’s love and servanthood “believed” that Jesus Christ was the son of God by his actions. In the books of Mark and Philippians Jesus said he came to the world to serve, not to be served.
Paul rebuked the young growing church in Corinth for their lack of servanthood which in turn builds unity. The new believers didn’t step away from their own selfishness, their own envy, or their own anger. In verse 3 Paul says: “For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
Let’s stop for a moment. I believe we have some of the same human traits today, that Paul experienced generations ago. Some things in life don’t go together; oil and water, nuts and chewing gum, love and hate, or criticism and unity. In the new faith community in Corinth immature believers ignored the model of Christ’s servant leadership and instead created cliques in the church based on strife, envy and divisions.
What leads to unity?
Christ’s model of service. Carry this example to the world — Servanthood! Read Mark 10:45 Philippians 2: 4 & 7. Servants look first to the interest of others rather than their own interests and unity results!
Unity comes when individual Christians submit their will and agenda to the Leadership of Jesus Christ - A new beginning.
Richard Baxer: “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.
Pastor Dorothy Hotchkiss of Webster’s Crossing UMC and Groveland Federated Parish.
dhotch2@frontiernet.net 585/406-7030 cell/text
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