Amen, Beacon! Being ambassadors for Christ, let us unitedly give a clear message of the gospel!
But what is unity? As I contemplate the genius of Jesus in calling such different men to be His apostles, I am reminded that the more naturally we differ from one another, the more keenly we will sense our continual need of Jesus to give us that unity which is the strength of the church. When Christ is on the throne of the heart, there can be no dissension, for each will be willing to yield to his brother, and in Christ there can be wisdom to guide and direct His work. God appoints leaders who can lead by the example of self-sacrificing service, true compassion, and wholehearted devotion to the will of God.
"The apostles differed widely in habits and disposition. There were the publican, Levi-Matthew, and the fiery zealot Simon, the uncompromising hater of the authority of Rome; the generous, impulsive Peter, and the mean-spirited Judas; Thomas, truehearted, yet timid and fearful, Philip, slow of heart, and inclined to doubt, and the ambitious, outspoken sons of Zebedee, with their brethren. These were brought together, with their different faults, all with inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil; but in and through Christ they were to dwell in the family of God, learning to become one in faith, in doctrine, in spirit. They would have their tests, their grievances, their differences of opinion; but while Christ was abiding in the heart, there could be no dissension. His love would lead to love for one another; the lessons of the Master would lead to the harmonizing of all differences, bringing the disciples into unity, till they would be of one mind and one judgment. Christ is the great center, and they would approach one another just in proportion as they approached the center." {The Desire of Ages, page 296, paragraph 2}
As we behold the loveliness of Jesus and yield the whole heart to Him, the miracle of conversion takes place, and the fruits of the Spirit without one missing are the spontaneous result of union and communion with Christ. May we go forth to invite others to join in the joy of sharing Christ in mind and character with the unique personality God has given us!