Choice greetings on a beautiful summer day,
Wow, what a week in the Tri-State. How wonderful it is for a pastor to see the church working together as one big family. Recently, I have coined the phrase "MOVING PARTS" and this exactly what God intends for His church family to be.
A phrase tossed around often in church circles is found early on in the life of members of the New Testament church. "They were all with one accord in one place". I find it interesting that Adam and Eve were not only in one place, but the very place God placed them. The first family were in one accord with one another but not in one accord with God. Have you ever really looked into what happens to couples who are in one accord with one another but not in one accord with God?
In Acts 5 is the story of a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Together they had hatched a plan to keep back part of an offering regarding a possession sold. The Bible says, "Sapphira, was privy to it." In other words, she was in one accord with her husband but not in one accord with God. Furthermore, Peter asked this question "How is it that the two of you have agreed to tempt the Holy Spirit of the Lord?"
The idea of unity is found as far back as creation, Genesis 1:26 "Let us make man in our image and after our likeness." Unity is a powerful combination as we find in Genesis chapter 11. Here the residents of Babel voted to pass a levy which the Bible records like this, "Let us build a city and a tower that may reach into heaven." To disrupt their unity God confuses their language. In the book of Corinthians, it is God's desire for us all to speak the same things; that is Unity. The prophet Amos sets the point for all of us, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Attitude is important in a relationship. An attitude adjustment is sometimes desperately needed to salvage a relationship. I read about a little girl in a Sunday school who was asked a question by her teacher, "Who made you?" Her answer is interesting, "God made me little and I just (growed) up the rest of myself." It is a good answer and I like it. Peter 2:18 says we are to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord." We know Peter the great fisherman was married because he had a mother-in-law who was at one time healed from fever by Jesus. He spoke about unity in the family in this one verse, I Peter 3:7: "Similarly, you husbands should try to understand the wives you live with, honoring them as physically weaker yet equally heirs with you of the grace of eternal life.
"If you don't do this, you will find it impossible to pray properly." This is how the Phillips Translation worded this verse. Other translations read like this: "Live peaceably with your wives that your prayers be not hindered". We are admonished by the Word of God to follow peace with all men and we are given several helpful hints along the way for instance: "Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise, you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time."
Hebrews 12:14-17 (The Message)"The Triune Godhead works together in Unity, for we know a Kingdom divided cannot stand, neither can a family. I believe in family and I believe God moves through families just like yours and mine.
Blessings,
Pastor Cleddie Keith