Read 1 Peter 2:9–10
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9
We belong to one family of God and share the same divine nature. We
are living stones in one building and priests serving in one temple.
We are citizens of the same heavenly homeland, and Jesus Christ is the
source and center of this unity. If we focus our attention and affection on
Him, we will walk and work together; if we focus on ourselves, we will
only cause division.
Unity does not eliminate diversity. Diversity is good—it gives
beauty and richness to a family or building. The absence of diversity
is uniformity, and uniformity is dull. It is fine when the choir sings in
unison, but it is preferable that they sing in harmony.
Christians can differ and still get along. All who cherish the “one
faith” and who seek to honor the “one Lord” can walk together (Eph.
4:1–6). God may call us into different ministries, or to use different
methods, but we can still love each other and seek to present a united
witness to the world.
St. Augustine said it perfectly: “In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all things, charity.”
Something to Ponder
When have you observed how the diversity of individuals combined
and resulted in the glory of God?