Mud Slapp’n Happy

Psalm 133:1 (New King James Version)

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

There is unlimited power in unity!  Unity simply means having continuity in purpose or action.  Unity is like the mortar between the bricks that makes a wall stand strong; it is the mortar that holds the bricks together and no matter how different each brick may be, it is the mortar that connects them and makes them stand together as they become that wall.   As our text Psalm 133:1 proclaims,” Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Unity is the glue in the body of Christ that allows us to be one.  Even with all our differences... such as different perspectives, different in race and culture, different in experiences, different even in the way we worship, and the benefit we have as a result of unity is that we can celebrate these differences and still work together.

The three key components associated with unity are agreement, harmony, and oneness. 

1.     AGREEMENT

Amos 3:3 asks the question “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  The question is designed to establish the fact that two cannot walk together except they agree.  They can be walking side by side, yet, if they are not walking in the same direction with the same purpose there is no true unity.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines agreement as being an arrangement between parties regarding a method of action such as a covenant.

We can tie two cats’ tails together and hang them over a clothes line; they may be hanging there together and it may be a union; however, it will be far from being unity.  The flying fur, the hissing and sharp claws says everything but unity.

Ironically, we practice becoming church members by covenant.  The covenant is that we walk in the light to the best of our knowledge and ability, that we accept the whole Bible as our rule, and practice discipline towards that as believers.  This covenant connects us with the same purpose in mind.  This is our agreement to each other and to God.

This not the only agreement we practice together as believers; we also attach our faith together for the purposes of agreement.  Matthew 18:19-20 tells us "Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they ask, it will be done for them of My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 

At the core of unity is the principle of agreement. Unified agreement in the body of Christ brings answers to our prayers, fulfillment of our needs AND the very presence of the Lord into our midst.  If we agree, there can be harmony...

2.     HARMONY

Everyone loves to hear a symphony play with harmony by blending separate, individual sounds to create one sound.  This is what we can do in the body of Christ to more effectively influence the world in which we live.

Paul powerfully spoke of harmony in Galatians 3:28, "We are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same--we are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus." (Living Bible) 

I may not make the same sound as you do, however, if I make my sound to blend with yours we create a harmony that is pleasant to hear.

3.     ONENESS (one heart and one mind)

It would be great if we had oneness in the body of Christ like Jesus has with the Father.  We can pray as the Lord did in John 17:11, "Holy Father, I am no longer in the world. I am coming to you, but my followers are still in the world. So keep them safe by the power of the name that you have given me. Then they will be one with each other, just as you and I are one." (Contemporary English Version) 

Job 38:22 asks the question “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow...?” Snowflakes are pretty fragile but if enough of them stick together they can stop traffic.  That's true with us.  By myself, I can't do a lot.  By yourself, you can't do a lot; however, together, we can make a Kingdom impact that will leave an indelible impression upon a generation yearning for the validation of its significance and purpose.

Let's not just believe for unity...for Christ's sake, let's be one!