Pre-Marriage Devotional Meditation on Unity and Love
Unity and love are central themes in Christian teaching, frequently exhorted in Scripture as foundational to the life of believers and the Church. The apostle Paul, in Ephesians, urges Christians to walk "worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called" by being "faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin," emphasizing unity and love as primary virtues [2]. This call to unity is not merely a suggestion but is presented as "the law of Christ's kingdom" [2].
The concept of unity extends from the divine to human relationships. The unity of God Himself is a cornerstone, asserted by God in Isaiah 44:6,8 and 45:18,21, and affirmed by Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the apostles (1 Corinthians 8:4,6; Ephesians 4:6) [1]. This divine unity serves as a ground for exclusive obedience and supreme love towards God [1]. In human relationships, particularly within the Christian community, unity is likened to the Church's relationship with Jesus Christ, and Christ's relationship with the Father, so that "all things may agree in unity" [5]. Augustine of Hippo highlights the importance of "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" [6].
Love is intrinsically linked with unity. Paul prays for believers to "increase and abound in love" (1 Thessalonians 3:12), indicating that love is not static but can grow and deepen [4]. This love should be mutual, reflecting the love Christ has for His followers [4]. The unity of husband and wife is specifically mentioned as a motivation for a husband to care for his wife (Ephesians 5:31) [3]. This marital unity is a profound bond, with one tradition describing it as being "joined unto the Lord," where the whole person is united to Christ, much like Adam and Eve were
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Unity of God — A ground for obeying him exclusively -- De 4:39,40. A ground for loving him supremely -- De 6:4,5; Mr 12:29,30. Asserted by God himself. -- Isa 44:6,8; 45:18,21. Christ. -- Mr 12:29; Joh 17:3. Moses. -- De 4:39; 6:4. Apostles. -- 1Co 8:4,6; Eph 4:6; 1Ti 2:5. Consistent with the deity of Christ and of the Holy Spirit -- Joh 10:30; 1Jo 5:7; Joh 14:9-11. Exhibited in His greatness and wonderful works. -- 2Sa 7:22; Ps 86:10. His works of creation and providence. -- Isa 44:24; 45:5-8. His being alone possessed of fore-knowledge. -- Isa 46:9-11. His exercise”
- Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 4:2: Here the apostle proceeds to more particular exhortations. Two he enlarges upon in this chapter: - To unity an love, purity and holiness, which Christians should very much study. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin. This section contains the exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of h”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:31: 5:31 The unity of husband and wife should motivate the husband to care for his wife.”
- 1 Thessalonians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Thessalonians 3:12: Make you to increase and abound in love - They had already love to each other, so as to unite them in one Christian body; and he prays that they may have an increase and an abundance of it; that they might feel the same love to each other which he felt for them all.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. V.--THE PRAISE OF UNITY. (part 1): For if I in this brief space of time, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop--I mean not of a mere human, but of a spiritual nature--how much more do I reckon you happy who are so joined to him as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father, that so all things may agree in unity ! Let no man deceive himself: if any one be not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two possesses[4] such power, how m”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — BOOK XXII. (part 82): the saying of the apostle: "Bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."(14) The Church becomes a well of satisfaction by this gift of the Spirit, the number seven denoting its spirituality; for it is in her a fountain of living water springing up unto everlasting life, and he who has it shall never thirst.(15) Uriah, Bersabee's husband, must, 308 from the meaning of his name, be understood as representing the devil. It is in union to the devil that all are bo”