Nancy Taylor Tate
I am thankful for the body of Christ—friends we have known for years, new friends the Lord is bringing into our lives, and the unity we have together in Christ Jesus because of our love for Him.
Psalm 133 is a beautiful passage of scripture that emphasizes the importance of unity. Not only is it “good and pleasant” when brethren dwell together in unity, verse three tells us this unity releases the “commanded” blessing. It is “life” giving.
The unity Psalm 133 speaks of begins in individual hearts, through our own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We can pray for this unity to then expand into our relationships with others. We can believe for it to not only mark our lives but to spread, impacting the places we live and work.
With unity comes inner peace. We can pray that this peace will touch others, that they, too, might know the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, in a deeper and more personal way (Isaiah 9:6). Whatever the circumstances, through our walk with the Lord there is a peace that surpasses all understanding available to us as we continue in right relationship with Him (Philippians 4:7).
Corporate gatherings are full of life when each person is in right relationship with the Lord. As we come together in His peace and presence, that inner desire to live pleasing to Him brings a unity, joining hearts together in a deeper way. How awesome it is to be in the midst of such a people!
How different things would be in our nation if we would but again be joined together as ones who put their trust in God. The lack of this kind of unity becomes devastating.
“And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). And, “if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24).
Revelation 5:9 tells us this unified faith in God is to flow from every “kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation”. The absence of this unity impacts the whole world.
Today we are seeing the devastating results of a lack of unified national reverence for God and a lack of unity in trusting Him. Yet during every timeframe in history, God has had a witness. We are called to be that witness today—to live contrary to much of what we see and hear around us.
In Luke, Zacharias prophesied into the purposes of God being fulfilled through Jesus Christ: “To give knowledge of salvation unto his people…to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:77–79).
As the Lord’s witnesses and carriers of His light today, may His purpose be fulfilled through our lives. May His light penetrate the darkness around us. May His peace and presence be sensed in us as He guides our footsteps. May others, too, be drawn to the Lord and choose to walk in His ways.
What greater unity can there be, than being joined together in this way? May a unified faith in God increase and arise!
We know from scripture that darkness is going to escalate in the days ahead, so let us not be taken by surprise or dismayed. Rather, let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
May faith be our focus, as we believe for His purposes to be fulfilled. May we be a part of that light that shines in darkness! May others be drawn to His light.
Let’s believe for this to happen in greater ways today: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Matthew 4:16).
Our position? Matthew 7:24–27 speaks of houses, built on the rock, able to withstand the storms life brings. Our calling? Matthew 5:14–16 speaks of shining forth His light, that others, too, might know Christ and be positioned rightly in Him, strengthened in their daily lives.
Yes, there is great darkness, but read Isaiah 60:1–3. Greater is the eternal light that is shining!
Shine, Jesus, shine! Fill this land with Your glory! Let people see Your light. May their hearts be turned toward You. May we reflect You in all we say and do. Draw a people out of the escalating darkness and let them see Your marvelous light.
May people see Jesus in and through us. May they come to know Him as their Savior and Lord. Let the unity spoken of in Psalm 133 arise and increase in us and in a people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (NLT).
Let’s pray and believe for this working of God not only in our nation, but the nations of the world—an end time harvest of people from every nation who love God and are carriers of His presence. May a unified faith in God increase and arise!