Unity

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
July 20, 2023

"Unity"

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms…”

Yep, that’s the hymn running through my mind this morning. I am getting a picture of me leaning on one side and someone else leaning on the other side of Jesus. I picture him standing firm as we both lean heavily into him and he remains upright while holding us both.

Today’s scripture is inspired by Pastor Betsy Haas who writes in her lesson from Adult Bible Study Series for July 23. The scripture is a lesson from the Apostle Paul who is confronting divisions in the church in Corinth; “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought”. Pastor Haas reflects; “Don’t overlook how Paul began his reproachment. He addressed them as brothers, reminding them that they were a family. He made his appeal in Christ’s name, literally calling on the one who cannot be divided. What a beautiful reminder that whenever we need to address disunity in our lives, we should start by acknowledging that we are brothers and sisters in Christ” (ISSN 0149-8347 Summer 2023).

My Dad had the same idea whenever he had to deal with disunity, in the home, at work, or even at church. He always said; “Let’s start with what we have in common and then look at what we do not have in common and see which one is more important”. What good advice, and yet, how often I go the shorter route and jump into what is wrong with that with which I disagree. Today, I want to encourage you as I encourage myself in writing this, to Lean into Jesus and not away from those with whom I may disagree. May His Holy Spirit enlighten each one of us again today, to trust the Lord more and what we think we know less.

Amen.