What’s glorious? Huge colorful mountains, vast rippling seas?
Yes, and when people gather together, share the same space with no agenda except to be together and simply, be.
Let’s face it, being human in this broken world brings us all to a common bond, faced with daily struggle and trial. Not to diminish the fact that many are faced with crisis, recent loss of health or loved one, or other.
These words sound so dry, yet the pain is excruciating for one in crisis. Where hearts feel as if physically bleeding, and the pain becomes consuming. The clouds of darkness hover over and it’s hard to see any good.
But the Bible reminds us what is good, when we feel as if we are spinning in a whirlwind of pain and would rather be alone instead-“Oh, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Ps. 133:1).
This is good. This is pleasant. Brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, moms, dads, grans and grants – not all at once, but brethren, with some common ground, being together …
In unity. This is the heart and mind of God.
God, the One Whom sent His Son to earth, to show us the Way, and even how to pray, in this very familiar manner: Our Father in heaven. The Bible doesn’t say, “My Father in heaven,” it says, “Our Father …”
“Oh, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
There is usually food involved in all this. And this involves hands, and so becomes need for helpers. Ice breaks, hearts beat again, by the simple warmth of togetherness.
So, somehow today, I hear words in my ear, “Just do it!” Get together and celebrate life. Celebrate all things beautiful.
And may we remember that we are being prayed for by the One who holds our heart, even it be bruised and broken, He tenderly cares. Jesus prayed to His Father:
“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—” The Book of John, chapter 17, verses 20-22.
Jesus has given us the glory that the Father gave the Son? Maybe we don’t experience that glory until we ‘let go’ of all we’re holding on to, and ‘let God’ bring us to a place of unity.
” … complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:2-4).
Could it be, that the One who made us, knows what will bring us happiness? Unity, all glorious.
How can we understand God’s glory? Hear the prayer of the Son:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17 verses 1-5.
A time to gather together. This brings glory to the Father. But perhaps, so much more that we can comprehend at the moment.
Unity opens us up that we might have confidence and joy for all of eternity: “…that they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21).
Christ the center, that we might all someday see …