WEEK 03 | UNITY

What is to be your role in other people’s lives? 

How is your story to merge with theirs?

We were made for healthy community, a truth explored in the entries to come.

  

DAY 15 | HARMONY

žcentering thought

“Dependence is not a four-letter word …”

encouragement from God’s word 

Read: PSALM 133:1-3

devotional direction

It has been said that life would be easy … if it weren’t for other people. Can you relate to that sentiment? Indeed, if we could always orchestrate things such that we always got our way, what a wonderful world it would be! 

Or would it? While eliminating all other people from the landscape of our lives might at first make for a joyously uninterrupted and unburdened solo existence, such a reality would do nothing to glorify God.

Before time began, God existed in triune form, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And then he proceeded to imprint each phase of creation with this marvelous, three-in-one tack. God leads husbands, who in turn lead wives; God leads governments, who in turn lead citizens; God leads pastors, who in turn lead congregations; God leads teachers, who in turn lead students. On and on it goes, the point being that God prizes relational interactions; it is in community that his glory is revealed. And so, while we may dream from time to time about evicted all other humans from our day-to-day life, the fact is that the holiest work we can accomplish each day is practicing harmonious interactivity with other souls.  

And so, a starting point or two: Just for today, slow your pace. Instead of barreling from one place to another, amble. When you encounter another person, catch his or her eye. Smile. Offer a warm hello. If it feels appropriate to do so, pause for a moment and acknowledge the immediate context that has caused you to cross paths. Ask a question … and then ask a follow-up question after that. As you head your separate ways, whisper a prayer to God, that he would be near to that person for the rest of the day in a way he or she can detect … that he would bless and keep them and cause his face to shine upon them … that he would be gracious to him or her in the challenges presently faced. 

Practice harmonious living today, and then practice it again tomorrow. Prize unity with the same intensity that God himself does. See if your life doesn’t change. 

question to ponder

What might your emphasis on unity accomplish in another person’s heart and mind today?