Unity in Christ by Sabrina Florey

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season. I deeply enjoy Lent for many reasons: the liturgy, the discipline, the coming celebration, the daily dependence, and especially the unity I feel in the body of Christ as we walk through this together. This season unites us in our need for a savior, and once again reminds us of our ultimate unity in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Unity is something I think we all long for. We want to be united to something outside of ourselves and feel that our contribution is important. I’ve always treasured unity whether finding that in a team, a friend group, an organization, or a project. I love the knowledge that I have something deeper that ties me to other people and that all of us would fight for the object that unites us. In this continued season of political tension and church division, my desire for unity has grown. This division often feels contrasted to unity I know in the body of Christ. 

As Nashville fellows, we are engaging with what it looks like to be in a devoted community that has greater unity in Jesus. We have different walks of faith, family backgrounds, personalities, motivations, experiences, and denominational perspectives. On Mondays in particular (our day of class and roundtable), we are gaining a better view of the Lord and His creation through learning more about Him, each other, and our speakers. We are an ecumenical program that has unity in the essentials. In addition, we are learning how to walk together even in our different views. It might be a shocker, but we, even in our many similarities, do not agree on everything, but I have learned how to focus on the centrality of the love of the Lord.

I am praying that we are able to walk into this season learning to listen to others and hear them. Our motivations not to just let them finish speaking before we say what we had been holding in, but to truly listen, engage and ask sincere questions. I pray we value others’ perspectives rather than writing them off because we don’t understand or have experienced differently. 

I pray that in this Lenten season we are reminded of our true unity to Christ both individually and as His body. Lord, lift our gazes to the beauty of the cross and resurrection once again. 

Romans 6:5- “For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.”

Psalm 133:1- “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”