January 13 “Getting Along…” Psalm 133:1
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
Several years ago, we went on a bus trip and the inevitable happened! There was one lady that complained about everything. Her seat was uncomfortable, her seat mate was too large for the seat, the bus was too noisy. She was generally disagreeable and made the trip unpleasant for everyone. Finally, I pulled her to the side and asked her to stop being so disagreeable. I explained that she was creating an atmosphere that was not good! Wow! She was shocked that I had spoken to her in this manner. She really didn’t realize that she was such a “Negative Nelly!” We continued our journey, and she did stop being so negative, or at least, didn’t verbalize her displeasure. As I thought about this experience, I understood the call for unity. How miserable it is when one is disagreeable, and how pleasant it is when one is enjoyable and agreeable! Folks, God expects us to live in unity with our fellow believers. Keep in mind, we are not expected to be “Cookie Cutter” Christians who agree on everything! Reality Check: There is a huge difference between UNITY and UNIFORMITY! My Daddy used to say that you could tie two Tom cat’s tails together and have UNION, but you would not have UNITY! Every believer has unique talents, opinions, thoughts, and actions, yet we, under the Blood of Jesus, are to be “Like-Minded” as we serve our Savior! Our politics, our preferences, our dislikes, our desires, must take second place to our commitment to Christ! Our lives should reflect HIS Love, and our ACTIONS should echo HIS Words, and Our behaviors must edify HIM! God loves it when His children “dwell together in unity!” We are to function the way that God intends, and we must be ready and willing to yield our rights and opinions, on occasion, and be quick to give and to receive forgiveness and, then we can “Dwell in Unity! It is so easy to get tangled up in the thoughts of this world, however, as children of God, we must remain “Heart – Centered” on God and forget our petty human irritations and focus on HIM! I am counting on HIS UNCHANGING AND MATCHLESS GRACE to sustain me and guide me and to teach me how to “Dwell in Unity!” Stay Strong, STAY FOCUSED…THE BEST IS ABSOLUTELY AND WITHOUT A DOUBT, YET TO BE!
Reflection: Over the course of a year, I have received overwhelming encouragement and support from a majority of our readers, yet there are one or two that believe that it is their responsibility to point out my “shortcomings!” Just so that you are informed, I, apparently, am painting a grim portrait of living, and that I am creating a picture of a negative and hostile living environment. Well, this is true! I am pointing out that, for the Born-Again Believer, this World, this Society, this Humanistic System IS AGAINST GOD and ALL THAT BELIEVE IN THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST! DO NOT BE FOOLED! This World is a Hostile Environment for a Christian, and we are called to “Armor -up,” to face the battles that are ahead, and that we are to “Love” our neighbors, and we are to “Live Peaceably” with all peoples, as much as we can! I will continue to point out the challenges and pitfalls, in order that we may be prepared to serve our Savior, even in the “Minefields” of our human existence! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!