Unity!

Unity!

Psalms 133:1 AMP

[1] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!

There is an interesting definition of unity available online, and it reads thus: "Unity is being together or at one with someone or something. It's the opposite of being divided. This is a word for togetherness or oneness". I reflect on this definition, and realise it does not deny the individual nature of the parts that are coming together. It is a recognition of the power and potential of the individual and separate parts. It is a connection between people or things which are not the same, but by virtue of the person or substance that seeks to bring them together, these people or things are able to function as one. This is one of the deep mysteries of who God is, and what He can do in the lives of all who submit to Him. He is not looking for mindless individuals, or persons who cannot think for themselves and are willing to follow the crowd even into destruction. He did not create robots.

God is looking for people who recognise and celebrate the power behind their individuality, but also know that they are stronger together than in units. Consider the impact of the above in one of the wise sayings by the son of the writer of the psalm above: "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken". This extract makes clear that you are powerful as an individual, but there is a geometric increase in the impact you make when you harness the sum of the individual parts to make a whole. One man may lift a heavy object after several attempts but imagine when 5 people work together to do the same job. There is power in the right number.

It is in this context that the verse above makes further sense. When we come together as one, because we know the power that is available to us, we are able to achieve more than we would have separately. One place this is also relevant is in the house of God. David speaks here of brothers, and this would mean people who are connected by blood. We know the blood of Jesus has brought different people under the same cover, and we can harness that relationship and change the world we have been placed in. The world is in turmoil and trouble because it does not know or acknowledge God. We have to show the world what it is missing, and our lives have to reflect the value of unity. How else will the world be attracted to God if we are not different from it? Don't lose your individuality; bring it under the control of the Holy Spirit, and with other people who have submitted to God, impact your world. God's time of favour is here.