Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Eph 4:3 NIV)

The doctrine about true Church unity and union is vital in a world full of differences, opposition and animosity and everyone who does not promote the ecclesial unification in the best sense sins. If you are confronted with a different opinion concerning the Christian faith or doctrine, then you should not just be flippant, but you should rather stand up for the truth according to God’s holy Word and Luther’s teaching. You are not permitted to disregard or ignore even those biblical truths that seem less central to you now. And yet you should not lightly shed the responsibility to stand up for unity and solidarity in the Church either. Even if that unity and Concordia is achieved, it must consistently be cared for and supported and actively endorsed. The devil is always actively involved to harm, corrupt and destroy the true unity of the Church through factions, splits and sectarian devotion and teaching. Would it not be just down his evil and devilish alley if the big mission goal of Jesus to gather his Church from all nations across the globe would fail, because of human divisions and differences?  One goes against the other, splits and separation are encouraged and enshrined and the unity of the Church is sacrificed on the bloody altar of godless ideology and other sinful human philosophies and considerations. At all times the struggle for the truth will remain the priority in the Church, because the sinful human heart does not automatically submit to the workings of the Holy Spirit, but has the corrupt tendency to oppose him wherever. That’s why you’ll have parties, groupings, sects and heresies. Oh, how important is it therefore to still strive for the truthful, faithful unity and confessional communion so that the band of peace continues to grow and become firmer incessantly binding the faithful ever closer together as members of one body and Jesus Christ the only head. Everybody is to be encouraged to support this communion. Through a strong, vibrant and flourishing unity in the commonly confessed truth there will come up a joy and vigor to strive for unity also in those points, where disagreement still holds sway.

Oh Lord Jesus Christ! Abide with your Church – especially in our land and on this continent. Bless those, that you have enriched and empowered with faithfulness towards your Holy Word and in the use of the most precious Sacraments!  Bless your faithful Lutheran Church everywhere. Don’t let human strength or wisdom build it, but rather let your Holy Spirit be the guide, strength, creator and ruler. Bless your one holy Christian Church wherever you are confessed – here and beyond our borders. Bless all souls, that bow before you and all hearts that confess your holy name and all, who put their trust in you. Bless this entire world with the power of your most holy and precious cross and let all those blessed come to you, where one Shepherd and one herd will be united in eternal praises of the heavenly Father. Amen. (Hermann Bezzel)

Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!  (William W. How, 1923-1897)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the seventeenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 336 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.