“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 NIV)
Unity means peace. No matter where you live in the world, you live in some kind of community. No one can survive alone. We need people in our lives. We need people different from us in our lives. Imagine if every single person in the world was exactly the same.
God help us if everyone was like me. I’m impulsive and rash. I have a one track mind which is hard to derail. I need other people in my life to balance me out. My husband, my friends, they help me see the whole truth, not just my truth. We all need that kind of help. God created each differently. We each have a different purpose. When we live in unity, we’re allowing those around us to live the lives God intended them too.
But we don’t allow people to live their lives. We think we know better than God what they should do. We all have opinions. We all think we’re right. Living in unity isn’t about right or wrong. Living in unity is about resolution. Learning to agree to disagree and still love one another. Unity isn’t easy, it requires work. The reward far outweighs the toil.
Unity means peace.
Our world needs peace. COVID has affected our thinking. I’ve questioned my sanity at times with things that occurred. People have pent up emotions that need release. Riots are happening. Tragedies are occurring. I pray more about the violence in today’s world than COVID. We aren’t accepting others who are different from us. We’re not loving everyone like they are our neighbor. If we were, unnecessary deaths wouldn’t happen. Racial disputes wouldn’t exist. We would live in unity and at peace.
Everyone God created has a part to play in this world:
“There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV)
As Christ followers, we all have the same commandment to follow:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV)
Loving God, loving others. When they asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest, His answer was simple. If we, as Christ followers were following His words better, unity in this world would exist. People would know us for our love. Hatred would not exist. Value people, they’ll know they’re valuable. Love is a verb that requires work. But the payoff is unity. Love God, love others.
Question of the Day:
How can you love God, love others today?
Further Reading: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24 NIV, Acts 10:1-23 NIV, Psalm 133:1-3 NIV, Proverbs 17:7-8 NIV
