Unity--Joined As A Whole

This Friday I leave for Ecuador and continue to build relationships with Nationals, Foreigners and Indigenous -- all with a the unified desire to bring a transformational gospel into the depths of the Amazon jungle.  Wait -- this is my life?!  Yup.  God's crazy.

On Saturday I will speak with a group of women in Ecuador.  Some foreign and nationals but most indigenous Christian women. As I've planned and processed my mind can't stick to the idea and in the past weeks of preparation the meditation of my heart has been that God's hovering over me; inspiring my words by the power of the Holy Spirit.  I can trust him.  I know this.  Lord, do a work in me.  Oh Lord, do a work though me.

I've been thinking a lot about the command to be unified in Christ; one body.  (Ephesians 4)  Unity isn't a contestable concept.  Most Christians will say, "Of course we need unity in the body." But how often do we see it played out?  This made me think -- exactly how contrary is the concept of unity in our culture?

Last night I was watching a travel and food show (love those!) and a South African man was quoted saying, "Sometimes one must fill the mouth to open the ears."  I paused the show and chewed on that quote.  This man was using food -- food from all different cultures fused together to create common ground, resolve conflict and bring together a torn apart country.  "Sometimes one must fill the mouth to open the ears."  This seems natural to me.  I love this concept all born out of this man's passion for food and unity in his country.  So basic but so profound.

This morning as I spend time listening to the Lord I've sensed him saying that unity isn't a meeting or a discipline chosen but an outpouring of the heart.  If I'm honest, my apprehension is that in South America, despite my desire to love and serve as Jesus led, I'll muff it up and get all Western minded; plan and project oriented; not about relationship.

Lord Jesus, Father God, Holy Spirit, search my heart and know me.  Test me and know my anxious thoughts. (Psalm 139:23)  Help me to operate from my passion for you and desire for unity within our family of believers.  Amen.