Daily Grace At
Jesus` Feet
January 17,
2010
Unity in
Diversity!
How good and pleasant it is when brothers
dwell in unity! – Psalm 133:1
David
understood the benefits of unity and says
when we come together in unity, it is: “Good” and “Pleasant”. That is
why he is
talking about the pleasantness of unity by comparing with the holy
anointing
oil that was poured over Aaron’s head that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe. Unity is as precious as
that of the fragrant anointing oil. Further, dwelling in unity, David
says is
refreshing as that of the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the
mountains of Zion.
David seen Mount
Hermon and the mountains of Zion
and can easily understand the beauty of those hill stations. I remember
the
refreshment of the morning walk at the hill stations like Kodaikanal or
Ooty in
Southern India during our camp trips.
The
morning dew drops like pearls on the grass or the plant leaves and the
fragrance of the flowers. Living in unity is both fragrant and
freshness to our
lives and brings refreshment and encouragement to the souls.
The place
we can dwell in unity is churches or fellowship and any gathering
believers
meet. “The word “Fellowship” is derived from the Greek Word “Koinonia”,
meaning
“Sharing in Common”. Believers share both happiness and sorrows
together. If
one is in need others sacrificially find ways to help this brother /
sister. A
quote says: “Joy shared, Joy doubled; Sorrow shared Sorrow halfed.” We
love and
accept one another because Christ loved and accepted as we are. The
Bible says
in John 1:12, “But to
all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become
children of
God.” We also read in 1 John 3:1, “How great is the love the Father has
lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is
what we
are!” We when have believers we are the children of God. What that says
to us
is: “We are brothers and sisters.” Brothers and Sisters mean sometimes
there
will be disagreements. Are sometimes, our homes not battles grounds
kids
running around and chasing one another and fighting? Do they stay like
that
forever? No. The next 15 minutes they play together. They fight still
they
grow-up physically and in mental maturity and above all as they grow in
the
Lord. The concept is almost the same. As we Christians we learn to
value one
another and respect one another and accept one another. We learn to
agree to
disagree. Above all, God desires His people to dwell or live in unity
and
harmony. If Christians can understand this simple concept our church
will be
flooding with people. I do not down play the genuine reasons people
leave the
church (like teaching of heresy, un-holiness, not adequately teaching
God’s
Word, compromising God’s commandments etc.). Believers are to delight
in one
another and not devour one another; ought to compliment one another and
not
compete with one another! I have heard people leave church for petty
reasons
like they did not like the color of the carpet, the pastor is not from
their
state, changes in the ministry pattern, favorite hymn not sung, drums
breaks
eardrums, my child was not offered a microphone etc., The church or
fellowship
should challenge our spiritual growth. The fellowship meeting should be
filled
with encouragements and raising voices for the unreached people, and
concern to
the grieving people. We should stand united in the furtherance of God’s
kingdom
here on earth. Disunity leads to disaster!
There once
was a gorgeous forest on the sides of the mighty mountains with
multitudes of
ancient pine, maple and willow trees. People enjoyed taking walks on
trails
along its many paths. People travelled from neighboring towns and
cities and
even around the world just to visit this ancient forest. They received
the
needed rest for their burdened lives. They relaxed from their business
of their
life pattern. In the forest was an overseer who never stopped
proclaiming to all the trees of
this ancient forest the importance of swaying in the same direction.
The young
trees learned very early on never to sway in a different direction from
the
others. Also in the forest there was a young red maple. "Why do we have
to
sway in the same direction?" he asked the overseer one day.
"Destruction will come if we sway our own way," responded the wise
one. But the young red maple wasn't satisfied. "Why?" he asked.
"You will understand the day that disaster strikes," the old tree
responded. This didn't make sense to the young maple. What was wrong
with
swaying any way you wanted to? After all, weren't each of the trees
their own
individual selves?
Then one day, a terrible storm appeared out of nowhere. No one in the
shire had
time to prepare for its impact, even less the trees of the forest. The
trees
started to sway back and forth. The overseer's voice could barely be
heard over
the boisterous wind: "Let's all keep on swaying in the same direction,
guys!" The thunder began to roll and the lighting flashed from all
directions. The trees feared for the worse as the lightning struck
right in the
middle of the forest. The overseer was hit, and he crumbled under the
impact of
the blow. In all the confusion, the trees began swaying in all
different
directions and some tried to stand against the strong winds in vain.
These
trees were quickly uprooted, and they slammed against the ones swaying
their
own ways, knocking them down in the process. The villagers grieved the
loss of
their forest and they could see a few trees were still standing. The
forest
destroyed, lost because of its own disunity in the midst of the storm.
Now the
young red maple understood the warnings of the overseer!
Apostle Paul gives us some great ideas in Philippians 2: 3-5, “don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.
Be humble,
thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for
your own
interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Why we should stand in
unity?
Jesus says in John 17:23, “May they experience such perfect unity that
the
world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you
love
me.” When this will happen?
When we have
the same attitude that, Christ Jesus had (Philippians 2:5-11)!
Dwelling in
Unity! or Quarrelling in Disunity!?
Prayer:
Father, I know believers are my brothers and sisters. Help me to live
in if not
perfect but in good harmony with one another. In Jesus Name I pray.
Amen!
May
you
have a Harmonious Day!