Unity in Christ for married couples

 
Our church had a ‘date night’ yesterday with a delicious catered meal, some silly games, and speakers who told us how to strengthen our marriages. The couples were attentive yet those of us married a long time kept wanting to add something to the advice given. Friends at the next table had sixty-three years together. We talked and the end and the husband echoed our ‘secret’ of a happy marriage in three words: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Today’s reading is about the unity produced by the Holy Spirit in the early church. He came on the day of Pentecost and changed their lives.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…

That was the beginning of what God intended to do and still wants for those who believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him. Paul wrote to the church:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1–6)

Our unity is because of the Holy Spirit. As we talked with two other long-married couples last night, we agreed on the power of the Lord to bring unity to marriages. I remember someone saying that the closer two people move toward God, the closer they become to each other. This works in relationships with other believers and is really true for marriages. Christian marriages are not exempt from separation and divorce yet behind all rifts and splits are lies from the pit. Satan does not want “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” so if he can get us to sin, he will ruin unity and marriage.

One of the ‘tips’ stressed by the speakers was communication. They didn’t mention the power of God to deepen this between couples, but I noticed something reading about the early church. When the Holy Spirit filled them, they began to communicate with others as never before. In that event, they “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1–4)

Reading through shows how this involved people with languages they did not previously understand. I chuckled because that is like getting married — two people eventually realize they do not understand one another! However, the Holy Spirit took care of that problem as: “both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11) This list is longer with several nations involved. God can do that with us too, not so much speaking in other tongues but helping couples hear and understand what at first seems foreign to them.

It began with those who knew Jesus and “with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer”(Acts 1:14). While prayer was mentioned at the date night, the power of God to make marriage last and glorify God in the process is the work of the Holy Spirit.

PRAY: Jesus, while You gave me a few other worthwhile ‘tips’ to strengthen our marriage, seeing Your power to bridge gaps in communication is wonderful. I need to always listen and obey as You tell me to speak and act in ways that make our marriage stronger and that will help others who are curious and want the same unity.

Unity in Diversity

MacArthur writes how God brought together opposites, like Simon the Zealot, Matthew the tax collector, Simon the fisherman and others with diverse backgrounds.

In our church, we have doctors, retired farmers, engineers, teachers, homemakers, former pastors, students, and others from varying walks of life, yet there is harmony.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1–6)

Unity is a work of the Holy Spirit. I recall in early days supporting a few missionaries in prayer and with my limited funds. On a vacation, we managed to meet with one of those couples and I still remember how surprised I was at the unity we had with them, total strangers in many ways yet we had in common the Lord Jesus Christ.

This unity is precious. The Spirit produces the ingredients. We know we are called into the family of God, not because of anything we have done, hence humility. We know the gentleness of God who patiently deals with our sins and issues of life. We know His love and, in that love, we know His promises and the hope that He gives us.

We also know the brevity of life and the senselessness of making issues out of our differences when God offers us that amazing peace that passes understanding. Whatever we lack in common ground in this life is more than made up for with the common ground of being God’s children. We together battle sin and together wage war with the forces of evil. We know there is no other ‘body’ of people like us. We know the power of the Holy Spirit as He leads and guides us.

We also know that there is only one Lord who is Jesus, and one faith — people trust Him or not! We also are aware of the unity He produces and the unity that is in Him, our three in One God who is sovereign and in us all. This Holy Spirit power and presence, as long as we walk in Him, is our unity. The past cannot separate us nor can our current differences.

In fact, we can relish the differences, enjoy them but also profit by them. The Spirit gives us varying gifts and when I need encouragement, God sends someone with that gift. When I need leadership, there are others who are better at vision and being organized that can guide me. Like the parts of a human body, we make up an entire unit. How lovely is the work of God in us!

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4–7)

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Corinthians 12:18–26)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I thank You for giving Your people unity through the power of the Holy Spirit. It really is an amazing reality, another one of those ‘only God’ things for which we are blessed. Continue to bless our church family with unity and should anything arise to push us apart, may You grant us the grace to drop any faction or disruption and be one in the Spirit, one in the Lord, just as You have so graciously made possible.

READ Romans 12:9–21. Are any of these attitudes missing in my life? If so, what can I do to restore them?