The Glory of Unity: How God Shines Through His Church

Imagine a beautiful stained glass window, its intricate pieces coming together to form a breathtaking masterpiece. Each fragment, though uniquely shaped and colored, plays a vital role in the overall design. When light shines through, the true magnificence of the artist's vision is revealed. This vivid image serves as a powerful metaphor for the church and its role in displaying God's glory through unity.

At its core, the concept of glorifying God means to know, magnify, and reveal His greatness. As believers, we cannot pray like Jesus did when He said, "Father, glorify me that I may glorify you." However, we can and should pray, "God, glorify yourself in me so that I may glorify you to others." This subtle shift in perspective is crucial – it's not about elevating ourselves, but rather surrendering completely to God's will and allowing Him to shine through us.

When we come to Jesus for salvation, we come under new ownership. It's not a partnership where we retain partial control; it's a complete surrender. We sell out to Christ entirely, allowing Him to restructure, rearrange, and remake whatever He wants in our lives. This individual surrender is the foundation for the unity God desires in His church.

The Apostle Paul beautifully articulates this concept in Philippians 2:1-4, urging believers to be "of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." He challenges us to "do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." This sacrificial partnership with fellow believers is where the true beauty of God's design begins to emerge.

Consider the diversity within the body of Christ – different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. Yet, God takes all these unique "pieces" and brings them together in a way that only He can. When we align ourselves with Christ and seek the good of others who are doing the same, something extraordinary happens. The light of Christ shines through His church, revealing a beautiful glory that transcends our individual differences.

This unity doesn't mean we're all at the same stage of spiritual growth. Some may be more mature in certain areas, while others are still developing. The beauty lies in how we support and challenge one another. Those who are stronger in an area can patiently guide those who are weaker, while those who are growing can inspire others with their enthusiasm and fresh perspective. In this way, we all contribute to the magnificent mosaic God is creating.

As we unite in this sacrificial partnership, we also come together for sacred purposes. Jesus, in His prayer recorded in John 17, speaks of glorifying the Father by accomplishing the work He was sent to do. While we may not fully comprehend the depths of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we know that it was for our redemption and reconciliation. This supreme act of love sets the standard for how we, as the church, should live out our sacred purpose.

Paul echoes this in Philippians 2:5-11, encouraging believers to have the same mindset as Christ, who "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Our unity in pursuing God's purposes should reflect this same humility and obedience. We empty ourselves, take on the form of servants, and lift high the name of Jesus together.

This sacred purpose is intrinsically linked to the concept of eternal life. Jesus defines eternal life as "knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3). It's not just about living forever; it's about a fundamental shift in our mindset and way of living. Eternal life begins the moment we declare Jesus as Lord, aligning ourselves with His will and living with the understanding that this world is not our ultimate home.

As we embrace this eternal perspective, we become a sanctified people – set apart for God's glory. This sanctification is about a continual process of repentance and transformation. We change our minds to think about things the way God thinks about them, which naturally leads to changes in our actions and attitudes.

When we come together as a unified, sanctified people, bowing before Jesus and confessing Him as Lord, we exponentially magnify and reveal the greatness of God the Father. Our unity puts on display a difference-making, life-giving, heart-transforming, hope-bestowing, purpose-revealing, sin-forgiving God who loves people far more than they could ever imagine.

It's important to note that this unity cannot be achieved in isolation. Just as one piece of colored glass doesn't make a stained glass masterpiece, we cannot fully live out God's call for unity on our own. Jesus Himself said that it is through our unity and love for one another that the world will know He is the Son of God sent by the Father.

As we reflect on this powerful message of unity, let's consider how we can better fit into God's beautiful mosaic. How can we yield ourselves more fully to Christ? How can we pursue sacred purposes alongside our brothers and sisters in faith? How can we grow in sanctification, allowing God's light to shine through us more brightly?

The church, unified in sacrificial partnership, pursuing sacred purposes, and growing in sanctification, becomes a beacon of hope to a lost world. It declares that there is light in the darkness, hope for the hopeless, and salvation in Christ alone. As we come together, may we always remember that it's not about our individual glory, but about revealing the magnificent glory of our Creator to a world in desperate need of His love and grace.