Unity means oneness; accord; commitment; and unification. It is the ultimate condition of harmony. When I think about unity the book of Ruth comes to mind. In this book you find such a vivid picture of true unity and how unity should be in the body of Christ.

"Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." - Ruth 1: 14-17 (NKJV)

Many of us have a very unique way of interpreting and looking at unity. A man once said if you wait for the wind and the weather to be just right you will never plant. Thus you will never have the privilege of harvest.

What's so interesting about unity is that most of us are always looking for perfect conditions before we will position ourselves in unity. In the body of Christ before we stand in unity we want everything and everyone to be perfect. How can an imperfect living being discover a perfect condition? How would that individual know that something is perfect based on how flawed they are.

In the text for today, we see Ruth not only made a choice to walk in unity with her mother-in-law; she also made a commitment. Ruth and Naomi's move from Moab back to Bethlehem was a move that was filled with challenges. In spite the challenges Ruth surrendered her will, her agenda, her ideology, and homeland to follow God and stand in unity. She ran the risk of being rejected, misunderstood and abandoned.

Some of us will never get to the level God wants because some of the people we are connected to have no passion for unity. In this period of life, disconnection will be necessary from those who don't want to change. Orpah didn't want to change; she did not want to stand in unity. The text says she kissed Naomi and went back to her past; BUT Ruth clung to Naomi.

In 2009 as the body of Christ, I challenge us to become one, to cling to one another, to put away our egos, our names, titles, denominations; and say like Ruth we are in this together. Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your Jesus, my God. We can do more together than we can apart. God desire for us is to stand together and hold on to something greater called "unity."

Elder Marquis Boone is the Youth Pastor and Director of R.A.W. (Real Anointed Worshippers) at New Mercies Christian Church (Lilburn, GA), under the leadership of Senior Pastor Jesse Curney, III. He is also the founder of Dream Out Loud, LLC, an organization dedicated to providing young people with practical methods on how to give their dreams an active voice. For more information about Elder Boone, log onto www.dreamoutloudtoday.com or www.therawyouth.com *Elder Boone is a 2009 StreamingFaith.com Guest Columnist.

© Elder Marquis Boone all rights reserved.