Unity

DEVOTION

PSALMS

UNITY

Ps 133

133:1 A song of ascents. Of David.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

NIV

The fourteenth song of ascent for the fourteenth of fifteen steps up to the temple. To live in harmony, in unity is a very pleasant way to live. Who would want strife? Who would desire to have conflict in their life? Who would want to be at odds with others? Who would enjoy always bickering or arguing about everything, always being angry and upset about what someone else did or said? Then there is the division about scriptural matters, with people separating themselves over translations, or interpretations, doctrines, and almost forming into adversaries over them.  If we are right then they are wrong is the general thinking within the denominational ranks. Even in the early church there seemed to be division, some follow Paul, others Apollos and still others follow Peter. But the fact remains we are to live in unity with our brothers. Who are our brothers? Anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Yet even within a single church we find some form of differences of opinion about the lists of do’s and don’ts. So how do we overcome all this squabbling? It would seem the root of all disharmony, all disunity is selfishness. The scripture tells us to build each other up.

Eph 4:11-13

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

NIV

1 Thess 5:11

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

NIV

There is the key to living in harmony, in peace with each other. Building each other up which then would mean preferring one another over self. It is more a life of selflessness, then we would be being like Jesus. Not an easy task because we have a tendency to want what we want. Yet even the gifts of the Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit are for the benefit of others. So if we can live for the benefit of others we will live in harmony and unity with each other. Then we will find that blessing from the Lord.