Living Together in Unity

Reflecting on The Fifth Sunday of Easter: One Day after Sunday (Year C)

Scripture

Psalter: Psalm 133

Old Testament: 1 Samuel 20:1-23, 35-42

Epistle: Acts 11:19-26

___

Prayer

Mighty God, in whom we know the power of redemption, you stand among us in the shadows of our time. As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life, uphold us with knowledge of the final morning when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son, we will share in his resurrection, redeemed and restored to the fullness of life and forever freed to be your people. Amen.

___

Reflection

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore (Psalm 133).

by Ray Fowler,

Have you ever gone on a road trip with your family? Road trips can be really, really good; or they can be really, really bad. Now imagine instead of just your family if you packed in all your relatives and neighbors, too. Anyone want to sign up for that trip?

Well, that’s similar to what was happening with the annual feasts in Jerusalem. The people would travel to Jerusalem for the feasts with their neighbors, family and relatives. And as they drew closer to Jerusalem more and more people would come together, people from different regions and different tribes, but all coming together for one common purpose – to worship the Lord at Jerusalem. And as we shall see, that is what makes all the difference.

There are few things as precious in this world as believers living together in unity. And one of the marks of a great church is the sweet sense of fellowship and unity we experience in the body of Christ.

Psalm 133 tells us three things about living together in unity. 1) It tells us the goodness of living together in unity. 2) It tells us the source of living together in unity. And 3) It tells us the blessing of living together in unity.

Living together in unity is good, it is pleasant, and it is appropriate for us as brothers and sisters in Christ. As believers we are united with Christ, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Christian unity is God’s gift to us – flowing down over us like precious oil on Aaron’s head or rich dew from Mount Hermon. God pours out his blessing on his people as we worship him in unity and receive his blessing of life for evermore. As we ascend nearer to God in worship, God’s blessing comes down to meet us. Of course the greatest blessing of all is just the Lord drawing near to us.

How we need to practice unity in the body of Christ! “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love: the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.”

___

Check out Ray Fowler’s web page here.