JULY 14, 2024
READ: PSALM 133
MEMORY VERSE
“Harmony is as refreshing as the dew.” Psalm 133:3 nlt
BACKGROUND
Dr. Tiffany Gholson had seen crime impact her small American city of East Saint Louis, Illinois, in many ways. By 2023, however, the town recorded a 31 percent drop in homicides and a 37 percent drop in crime overall. What happened? A partnership.
Working together, the city’s Public Safety Enforcement Group—including the state and city police, the city school district, and a faith organization—combined efforts to turn the tide for all citizens.
“We say it’s a marriage,” Dr. Gholson stated, with all members of the city partnership joining in to help citizens. The school district’s Wraparound Wellness Center, which she leads, involves school social workers, nurses, and staff to support kids impacted by crime or accidents.
Other agencies share their strengths. Police commit to talk more with people on the street—and listen.
The psalmist David wrote, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). “Harmony,” David added, “is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon” (v. 3 nlt).
David was referring to people who share a unifying faith in God. Rather than divided by doctrines or politics, we are one. The concept may feel elusive, yet it blesses all. It’s a beautiful goal for believers to show concern for one another—especially in our cities desperately in need of the love of Jesus.
By: Patricia Raybon
INSIGHT
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
Unity is a theme found throughout the Bible. In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He asked that all believers in Christ “be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23).
He knew believers would require God’s help to keep them unified in the face of quarrels, controversy, and persecution, and their witness of Him would be hampered by disunity. The apostle Paul called believers to “stand firm in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1).
This is best accomplished when the church is unified. It requires “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” forgiveness, and above all “love, which binds [us] all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14).
Unity is embodied when individuals in the church use their spiritual gifts and abilities to benefit the whole (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
APPLICATION
Where do you see a lack of unity? How might God be prompting you to promote unity by living out your faith?
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“…people who share a unifying faith in God, rather than (been) divided by doctrines or politics, (must be) one. “ Adapted
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds
and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” Ephesians 4:11-13
“Together we Stand, Divided we fall”
PRAYER
“Father, please help me by the power of Your Spirit to work for unity in my community.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST”
What a wonderful church life,
All the saints truly are one,
No matter where and who we are,
We are one!
Nothing can set us apart,
For we have the same life,
Although Satan tried and tried,
We are one!
We are, we are, we are one in Christ!
Abiding in the true vine,
Receiving all the riches of the life divine,
We are one!
We are, we are, we are one in Christ!
Growing in the tree of life,
In Him we fellowship unto eternal life,
We are one!
What a glorious church life,
Christ in us has made us one,
Eating the tree of life,
We are one!
How can we ever depart
Such a sweet and blessed life?
Christ in us and we in Christ!
We are one!
We are, we are, we are one in Christ!
Abiding in the true vine,
Receiving all the riches of the life divine,
We are one!
We are, we are, we are one in Christ!
Growing in the tree of life,
In Him we fellowship unto eternal life,
We are one!
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
