Unity

Unity, with God or with people, comes through shared struggle. You don't get close to someone by saying "I need to get close to you." It takes action; shared struggle. Hanging out is good, but no amount of hanging out brings the closeness that comes from working together.

When I say struggle, I don't mean that it has to be painful. I think we all know that when we have pain or hurt or difficulty in life it causes us to get closer to God. But, it's not just those negative things that I mean. I'm defining struggle like labor. I think of the people with whom I'm the closest and it's those with whom I've labored/struggled; those I've served alongside in ministry; worship teams, missions teams, leadership teams, sports teams.

1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did." Jesus walked with the Father. Jesus labored and struggled for the Kingdom with His friends and disciples.