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Devotional

For There He Bestows His Blessing

by BARBARA KINDSCHI UNITY Team unity & dynamics
For There He Bestows His Blessing
  • by BARBARA KINDSCHI
  • Comment
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. for there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life evermore."
Psalms 133:1-3

Are you on a team that has a common language? From the same generation? Shares similar feelings about money, child-raising, humor, holidays, and social media? Not to mention theology and ministry goals.  


I didn’t think so. 


It’s ironic that those in our new communities often see us as more unified than we do.  


“You were friends in your country, right?”  


“You must be like a big family.” 


“Will you all spend Christmas together?” 


How often have I been asked these questions about people I may have known for just a few months!  


I know of one team that sings, “Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken” when there has been an unusually heated discussion. It’s often calming and helps them to laugh at themselves, but not always. 


Why is unity so elusive, frustrating, and, well, challenging? My time serving on various teams and projects (where people had to work with me, too) has shown me two things that are very easy to forget. 


First, unity is hard continuous work. Look at Paul’s words on this subject. “Make every effort (some translations use the word strive) to keep the unity.” “God, who gives endurance and encouragement, give you a spirit of unity.” He tells the Corinthians that the gifts were given “…to prepare people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity…”  


While we might think we need to work on being more accepting, God is talking about love. The day-in and day-out love of I Corinthians 13: not keeping score, not self-seeking, not delighting in evil. The love of Ephesians 4: forgiving as Christ forgives. Being devoted to one another as in Romans 12. 


Second, unity is of utmost value to God. While we may sing “we are one in the Spirit,” do we really believe the price our Creator has put on this loving unity? It is his criteria for being known as his follower! John 13:35 is clear, “by this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  


Is it good for brothers to live together in unity? Yes! For “there the Lord bestows his blessing.” 


Closing Prayer
God, show me what unity in you means in my present situation. It’s easy when we agree but there’s so much unknown right now. It’s hard to keep up with the changes in my own life, much less for the team members you’ve put me with. So much self-centeredness. But we all want to be known as your disciples! The world sees so little unity. Help us to be different. Help our differences not be irritations but iron sharpening iron.
Resources
Book: The Mark of the Christian by Francis Schaeffer Schaeffer takes John 13:35 and 17:23 to point out God’s priority on unity for his children.
Article: The Trinity and Christian Unity by Ligonier Ministries This quote about Christian unity got my attention: “Diversity will not compromise our unity.” Maybe it will catch yours, too!
Question for Reflection

What has helped you deal with differences with team members or fellow workers?

Comments
Barbara Kindschi
January 07, 2022

It has helped to change my expectations and listen more. When I see a co-worker my age, I immediately hope for friendship. Why? Time after time God has brought me younger and older colleagues who have become very dear to me. On the teams that come from many cultures, I’ve learned, and am still learning, to listen. How did they come to faith? What struggles have they had as a believer? Often after listening, I come to understand their decision or action that puzzled me before. Nothing works all the time. Listening and waiting is hard!