We Are One in the Spirit

1st Peter 3 gives us the admonition to strive for unity with one another - we can impact the culture for Christ better together than separately:
8Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;9not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

We have to be careful that we do not specialize in staying separated from each other as believers in Christ, because if we abide in division, then we short-circuit the power of God to impact our communities.   If we concentrate on what divides us, then we cannot show the light of Christ like He would intend.   But, if we focus on our love for Jesus and look for ways in which we can join hearts and hands together for the benefit of all, then we activate the Holy Spirit in our midst, and people will be drawn to the love and fellowship we express for one another.

In Ephesians 4, we see a passage that can help reinforce for us the concept that we are one with one another in the body of Christ:
4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Got to tell you - I had one of those "moments" on Saturday night - you know when the Holy Spirit just shows you something about our God or points something out to you about the nature of Christ.   I was exiting the Montgomery Performing Arts Center after a very special evening of worship with CeCe Winans. 
As I came out of the door to the auditorium and looked out at the hundreds who were leaving the concert, I saw people of different races who had been gathered in one place, worshipping one Lord, and enjoying a time with Him, sharing a common experience.  It just becomes so clear to me that it pleases the heart of the Father when His people come together.  And, for this real-life picture to be painted before me in Montgomery, in Alabama, which has had a rather infamous history of racial division, it just really touched me.
This was a rather fitting beginning, if you will, to the Christmas season in Central Alabama.   Because not only did we have an opportunity to sit and worship together, but during the holidays, there are those opportunities when we can serve together.  
This Thursday, there will be community outreaches by the scores across our area and throughout the nation, where people from a variety of cultural backgrounds can join hearts and hands to serve people less fortunate.   And, throughout the holidays, we become more sensitized to the needs of others, and as we focus on God and the gift of His Son and through Him, look for opportunities to serve, it brings people of faith together for a common purpose.   
If we're willing to put aside our differences and look to Jesus, what an amazing impact that we can have, and people who do not know the Savior will see the nature of true, sacrificial love.   We can choose to allow our differences to divide us and keep us apart, or we can learn to look beyond the externals - the color of our skin, the cost of our clothing, or the culture in which we grew up.  We then see that a heart full of Jesus is a heart that is connected to us.   Jesus said that if He is lifted up, He'll draw all men unto Himself.   We lift Him up as our hearts are open to His Spirit and as we bond with one another - the enemy would want to keep us divided and render us ineffective, but the Lord is calling us to accomplish great things for His kingdom - together!