Unity. Perhaps we love the idea, but the deliberate steps that actually lead us to unity's doorstep can be harder to muster.

When you hear her say that thing that drives you up the wall, but you respond with compassion instead of giving her grief.

When something you see at church starts to plant seeds of bitterness, but you choose gratitude and grace instead of hurt.

When your social media scrolling starts to tarnish your esteem for your brother or sister in Christ, but you choose to speak well of them anyway.

Unity can feel costly, but each weighty step you take in pursuit of it is a worthy one.

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Don't give up in the work of pursuing unity in the body of believers, my friend. May Paul's words in Romans 15:5-6 be a prayer over your heart this morning: "I pray that our God, who calls you and gives you perseverance and encouragement, will join all of you together to share one mind according to Jesus the Anointed. In this unity, you will share one voice as you glorify the one True God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, our Liberating King" (VOICE).

Take a moment in prayer right now to ask God to strengthen you in this call to unity, that we would use our voices, not to uphold our own opinions and rights, but as a collective offering of honor to our One King, Jesus.