How well do you live with others? Are you willing to get along? Are you willing to compromise? Are you willing to forgive? Will you agree on the main things and not worry about the small things? Will you live in unity of what is important? Will you do what is best for all?
Living with others can be a challenge, even those we love. Disagreements happen. Feelings get hurt. Emotions may run high. Getting along with family we do not live can also be a challenge for the same reasons. Despite those things happening, we can still live together in unity.
Unity does not mean we agree on everything. It does mean we agree on the main thing. This is especially true for the church. We may not achieve unanimous agreement on what flowers are to be planted nor the color of the signs. We can all state many things that occur that we do not agree with. But disagreement does not need to divide us.
Agreeing that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior is foundational. Agreeing that Jesus was born, lived among us, died on a cross, was buried, and rose on the third day is foundational. Agreeing that God has called all of us to be in mission with him is foundational. How we go about mission will be different for each of us depending on our spiritual gifts.
The Psalmist tells us it is good and pleasant when we live together in unity. He did not say we must agree on everything. It is a choice for us to live in unity. Some will refuse to do so because they want things their way. It is our willingness to live together in unity despite our differences that we learn new things. Without the diversity of thought, we never grow.
I pray we all realize we do not have to agree on everything. I pray we choose to be gracious toward one another. I pray each one of us will choose unity rather than division. We won’t always agree with others. Be gracious in disagreement. Choose to be unified in Jesus.
Psalm 133:1
How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
Marty Pressey 