I love it when the Word nails it.
I’m talking about the perfect kind of advice that, if followed, can unleash a river of blessing into a congregation.
I want this river for my congregation, SouthWinds Christian Church in south Miami, Florida.
You can see this river flow in your congregation, too, as your brothers and sisters in Christ love another as Christ loves them.
Check out Psalm 133:1-4 and then imagine this picture actually becoming the pattern for your congregation.
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.
“For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
My congregation will become more effective for the Kingdom of God as members, visitors and the surrounding community see the Lord bestowing more blessings into the lives of those she serves, particularly the blessing of salvation.
Notice the cause-effect sequence above: “…when God’s people live together in unity…. there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
If you and I want to see more blessing flowing into our congregation, including the saving of lost souls, then our call is to passionately pursue unity.
That means that you and I have a responsibility to do all that we can to repair ANY hindered relationship with others in our congregation.
This is no time to be prideful, grunting that “they” have come to us with an apology or with a proper recognition of how important we are or with an ongoing deference to talking about what WE want to talk about or eating where WE want to eat or embracing worship music that WE embrace.
Listen, what is the real reason for unity?
It pleases the Father, that’s why.
So what if we don’t have a bunch of pinky pals in the church? Passionately pursuing unity is still the only acceptable course. For that is what pleases the Father and, ultimately, blesses us.
It’s not about us. It’s about Him.
Please Him.
Love and serve others. Even if they’re far from perfect.
Don’t you want others to do the same for you?
Life will be SO much better that way and your congregation will be SO much closer to what God wants.
As always, I love you
Martin
