How can Ezekiel 37:18 inspire us to seek unity in our church? The Scene in Ezekiel 37:18 “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you explain to us what you mean by these?’” (Ezekiel 37:18) Ezekiel holds two sticks—one marked for Judah, the other for Joseph—and God tells him to join them. The onlookers’ question in verse 18 opens the door for the stunning promise that follows: “I will make them one nation” (v. 22). God literally pledged to reunite what was divided. Timeless Truth: God Loves to Bring the Pieces Together • Division is never His final word; restoration is. • The visible sign—two sticks becoming one—proclaims that unity is a work only God can accomplish, yet He invites His people to witness and participate. • When believers live as one, they mirror the certainty of God’s future for His people. Lessons for Church Unity Today • Expect questions. A congregation that lives in harmony will provoke the same curiosity Ezekiel evoked: “What does this mean?” • Celebrate shared identity. Just as Judah and Joseph retained their names yet became one, individual ministries, cultures, and preferences can blend without losing God-given distinctives. • Trust God’s promise more than past pain. Israel’s split lasted centuries, yet God still pledged reunification. No church history is too broken for Him. • Unity magnifies witness. The joined sticks became a tangible prophecy; united believers become a living testimony (cf. John 17:21). Practical Steps Toward Unity • Ground every gathering in the Word; Scripture centers hearts on God’s agenda, not ours. • Pray together for the Spirit’s bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). • Speak well of one another; refuse gossip and slander. • Serve side by side—joint projects knit hearts faster than joint meetings. • Resolve conflicts quickly, face-to-face (Matthew 18:15). • Celebrate communion frequently; the Lord’s Table proclaims one body (1 Corinthians 10:17). • Appoint diverse teams; shared leadership dampens turf wars. • Keep the mission in view—making disciples unites more than debating methods. Scriptures That Echo the Call • John 17:21 — “that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” • Psalm 133:1 — “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” • Ephesians 4:3-6 — “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.” • Romans 15:5-6 — “Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” • 1 Corinthians 1:10 — “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.” • Colossians 3:14 — “And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.” |
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