Deep-Heart Unity

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

O come, Desire of Nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our King of Peace

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel!

Can I get an amen on this one?? If ever there was a year of “sad divisions,” it was 2020. Are they surmountable? Can we ever find real peace again? Is deep-heart unity possible?

Among us who belong to the Savior, a resounding yes! This song is pulling prophetically on the fulfillment of this Scripture passage:

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…  that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace … thereby killing the hostility” (Eph. 2:14-16, ESV).

Jesus Himself is our peace. It is He who makes us one in Him. With His entry onto the planet, the angels announced peace on earth. With His exit thirty-three years later, His concluding prayer to the Father was that we would be one as They are one. His birth and His resurrection were bookends proclaiming peace and unity.

If there’s one thing I know about Jesus’ prayers, it’s that they get answered. Let’s you and I surrender to the inevitable fulfilment of that culminating prayer of His: “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one” (John 17:22, NKJV). As we give over our hearts to Him, He breaks down our walls of hostility. Ephesians says He kills the hostility. That is some exceedingly strong language!

I believe our King of Peace is gently requesting access to the inner rooms of our hearts today. In those hidden places, are we harboring any hostility towards anyone? Do we need to surrender our right to be offended, that His Kingdom might come in a fuller way in our lives? What needs to happen on a personal level, in me today, that Jesus’ prayer to the Father might be fulfilled?

Let’s take one more look at today’s verse from “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” It calls out in yearning for the fulfillment of this prophecy: “And I will shake all nations, and the Desire of all Nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts” (Hag. 2:7, KJV).

Have we seen the nations shaken this year? Oh my goodness, have we! What if, in God’s sovereignty, He has been moving His pieces on the chessboard… that the Desire of Nations might come in? That He might fill His house… (that’s us!)… with His glory? Do you see that receiving His glory is closely associated with becoming one as Jesus and the Father are one (take a peek at John 17:22 again)?

A closing thought. Who is this Desire of Nations? It’s Jesus. He is the One for whom our deepest hearts long. Let’s surrender to Him this Christmas. Let’s implore Him to break down walls, to kill hostility, to prepare our hearts for His coming. Let’s ask Him to cleanse us from deep-heart offenses and bind our hearts together as one.

Will you sing this hymn to Jesus with me in your heart right now?

O come, Desire of Nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease
And be Thyself our King of Peace

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, o Israel!

As we cry out to Him, He answers. The King of Peace is here. He is here to cleanse our hearts and to make us one…

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The “sad divisions” pulling nations apart are so immense – do you believe that you and I can make a difference? What are some lifestyle practices that will foster unity and peace?

18 thoughts on “Deep-Heart Unity”

  1. As I was reading this and thinking about the divisions in 2020, I got a picture of two little kids playing on a see-saw. Two very young kids on a huge see-saw to be exact. Each of them kept trying to push up with all of their might when they got to the bottom. Not only did they want to be the one up in the air, but they were also trying their hardest to get the other one to slam down on the ground in their attempt. Then I thought of older children, or even adults, playing on the see-saw. They were trying to maintain a gentle up and down on the see-saw where sometimes they were level, sometimes one got to be at the top, and then the other would get to be at the top. It strikes me that this is a very apt illustration of the difference between the division our world has been going through, and the peaceful and joyful experience we have when we are able to work together to achieve the gentle back and forth motion of being one but also separate. A see-saw is only fun for a few moments if you are trying to just stay still and balanced. It is the gentle back and forth motion that truly makes it enjoyable.
    I do believe we can make a difference. That difference starts with the change of heart where I decide that I want to enjoy the ride as opposed to constantly trying to ‘be on top’. I can also take joy in the success of others when they have that chance to be on the top as opposed to trying to slam them down to the ground. Life has it’s ups and downs. We have to decide that Jesus is not only enough, but that we trust what He is doing in our lives. And allow Him in to those places where our peace is lacking, so that He can bring His peace into our lives.

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    1. Wow, I really, really like that. What a gentle and helpful picture. It conveys the necessary truth in a way that we can easily understand and receive, lovingly and without condemnation, but clear in its call to come up higher. Thank you so much for sharing it so thoughtfully!

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  6. a-men from me. Unity when God the Spirit is fully allowed to be GOD of mortal souls/spirits and all mortal flesh is cast aside. Not actually while we live but in the selfish ME ME ME focus, or all about my body wants and needs.

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