God calls us to Unity...not Uniformity

As followers of Jesus Christ...believers...saints...brethren...Body of Christ... David sings this psalm....Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity! That sounds peaceful...unity means in agreement...in agreement to what?
(By the way unity is used only 3x in the KJV...)

Paul says in Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Endeavouring means to be diligent to exert one's self to be in agreement of the Spirit in the ties that bind us (bond) of peace. He then continues in chapter 4...

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

We can put this all together to say it is good and pleasant when we are being diligent to exert ourselves to be in the agreement of faith...Paul is communicating we as believers should be in agreement about our faith and the knowledge of Jesus, it brings about a perfect man in us, we will have a portion of the maturity of fullness in abundance of Jesus when we come to understand unity.

Now many...not all... many confuse unity for uniformity, that is, where everyone must look like them, serve like them, be like them. Also, it may be they think along the lines of mostly man-made laws and guidelines for the church and people must be in uniform to that. Most guidelines are either not Biblical or the ones that are are not followed. People tend to follow man rather than Jesus Christ. Like Moses' time, they wanted their rules...only to rebel against them.

God says He made us in His image...if we are to be in uniform to anyone or thing...it is Him. He has given us dominion over the earth and the animals...not others! Paul exhorts us to be followers of God or imitators as dear sweet obedient children...he does not say follow others, imitate others, we are to bear the likeness of God. We are to imitate or follow Christ's love, it may be a sacrifice but it is sweet to God. We are also told in Scriptures to PUT ON the LORD JESUS...not take on or put on Jane, Sally, or Joe.

We are also beseeched or exhorted, begged that by God's mercy we would present our bodies...our human form of self, as a living...not a dead...a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable or pleasing to God which is the least we can do, our reasonable service...IN doing so we cannot be conformed to this world...this world is not a believers home...we are to be TRANSFORMED changed into another (Christ) HOW? by the renewing of our minds...taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...that we may prove what is good, acceptable, and the perfect will of God.

IF ....and I say if, most professing believers would concentrate on their own Christ-likeness...I would reckon..at least I know for myself...we wouldnt have time to worry about what we think others should do, Amen! Now, I am not saying if a brother or sister is in trouble or sin and they need some sharpening...I am talking about...people wanting other people to do what they "think" is right about the things they should do. I will share a story tomorrow as an example when we talk about grace.

I leave us with this thought...God is amazing...He is in control...He knows what He is doing. We are to be in obedience to the one true God! We were created in His image, to glorify Him (Is 43:7). We are not to serve or obey little gods, we are not to chase after idols, we are to tear down our high places and build our alters of sacrifice. What does that alter look like...as we live we lay down our life as a sacrifice that God may do His work in and through us. We are never asked to sacrifice our service to look like or conform to or allow anyone else to work in and through us.

God made YOU special! He made me special! He gave us unique characteristics, with specific purpose and assignments that only we can do! We have one of a kind fingerprints, we have one of a kind iris's, we have one of a kind voices, our lives should not look like other people, our life's journey should be a one of a kind story that has been packaged from birth. ITS OK TO BE YOU...GOD NOT ONLY LOVES YOU...AND HAS REDEEMED YOU...HE LIKES YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!!! God takes a lifetime to transform you more and more into His image. Keep your focus on Jesus, set your standards to Jesus, compare yourself only with Jesus and you will be a sweet...sweet aroma to Him.

You are IN-CHRIST...live believing which means to be fully persuaded that you know that!!!

Genesis 1 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over

Ephesians 5 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

We are to put on the Lord Jesus.... Ro 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

Romans 12 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)