We Should Live in Unity

Carolyn and I recently were in Harrisonburg and while there we bought a pair of shoes. The clerk was a school teacher who worked at this store in the evenings. She loves her students and told us that the school population within Harrisonburg High School includes students from 54 countries. We were amazed at this degree of diversity. Fifty-four countries in one high school!

This is what one of our past bishops meant when he said, “This is what heaven will look like.” Unity and diversity are a powerful image that is close to God’s heart – people living together in “unity.”

Psalm 133 speaks about unity among God’s people. This Psalm is one of ascent – a song sung as people entered Jerusalem for annual celebrations. Verse one of this Psalm reminds the people of the benefits of living harmoniously despite the differences that cause divisions. Unity is described as refreshing dew (v. 3) and oil – used to anoint priests (Exodus 29:7) – “running down the head, beard and clothing of a priest (v. 2). Together, these images point to the reality that in unity, God’s blessings flow so lavishly they can’t be contained.

When we believe in Jesus, despite all our differences, there’s a unity in the spirit (Ephesians 4:3). When we stand together and celebrate that common bond as Jesus leads us, we can embrace our God-given differences and celebrate the source of true unity. Again, this is what Bishop Pennell meant when he said, “This is what heaven will look like.” Let’s celebrate together and live in unity.

Prayer – Father, help me to do my part to live in unity with all of God’s people. Amen.

Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Images by Rut Miit & Wylly Suhendra, courtesy of Unsplash