One of the most vital ingredients, if not the most important aspect to create a healthy relationship, is our established identity as sons and daughters of the Most High God, partaking His divine nature and having the mind of Christ only made possible by the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross.

We all know that no one has “arrived” yet and we are all a work in progress, but as we come to gain knowledge and confidence in who we are before the eyes of our Heavenly Father through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we posture ourselves to become carriers of His kingdom to create a healthy family and community.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by BEING LIKE-MINDED, having the SAME LOVE, being ONE IN SPIRIT and OF ONE MIND.” Philippians‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We live in a world full of opinions. Unless we know how to maneuver ourselves as we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit Who is the revealer of all truth, we can be easily swayed and persuaded at the same time have countless possibilities to disagree with others. This is so because we all are created uniquely with one of a kind perceptions.  But as we make the word of God as our plumb line, we see beauty behind our differences.

I once had a disagreement with a friend. She had her own perception on how she sees our beloved country, looking at it as how media is describing it. I, too, have my own, truly hopeful for the best regardless of what I see and hear.

A lot of times when things like these happen, I simply back off and let her have her way, yet with a “grudge” in my heart. Since I didn’t feel good about it, I knew there was something in my heart that needed to be realigned.

And so I asked the Lord to teach me how to deal with something like this. He simply impressed this in my heart, “Know how to accept opinions wholeheartedly and learn to walk in humility as you consider others above yourself by honoring and respecting the gift that one has. Know how to reject opinions as well without making the other person feel rejected. Know that you are valuable before My eyes that will cause you not to wrestle to be valued by others. Your confidence in Me is what keeps you humble and approachable.” Oh how these words freed my heart from that “grudge”. It opened my mind into a new and living way, complementing rather than competing, appreciating rather than arguing.  It enabled me to understand more about relationships that it is next to impossible for two people to ALWAYS agree with each other, yet by His grace we rise above our different opinions and move into what is best for such given situation.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians‬ ‭2:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is beauty and unity in diversity. Yes, no two individuals are alike, not even identical twins, but as we learn how we are to value each other as each one is created uniquely, we walk towards a possible unity. We are to honor the gifts and callings that God has deposited in each of us and we are to respect diversity to make room for one’s potential to be limitlessly expressed.

Every single day we are given opportunities to exercise what we truly believe in.  We may have different facets of revelation on a given situation but unity can only be achieved when we align ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ Who is the Head of the body, where agape LOVE is the unifying factor.   It is only when we securely walk in love, being loved dearly by HIM Who is love Himself, can we express such unfailing love to those around us in spite of our differences.

“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense.Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong.Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others.Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.”  (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TPT)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing us to see unity in diversity.  Thank You, Jesus, for demonstrating what it means to love and to be loved.  Because of Your great love for us, You withheld nothing.  You suffered and died just as so we can be reconciled and restored back into the loving embrace of our Father.  Truly, being loved by You is the best thing that one could ever have for this is where our value and security lies.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for teaching us how to walk in love and gracing us to carry within us the unifying factor that displaces the foothold of the enemy, and it is called LOVE.  Amen!