How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
The average congregation just floats along most of the time. Each Sunday is like the one before, different enough that it can’t be called a re-run, but similar enough that it doesn’t threaten anyone’s sense of security.
But every now and then a congregation will be galvanized into action by some great goal and for a while a careful observer will be able to spot the different gifts of the spirit being put into action. In 1 Cor. 12:12-26 Paul described how the many parts become one body as each individual makes his or her unique contribution to the whole. It doesn’t seem to matter to anyone that some functions are more honorable than others, each one is undertaken with a unity of purpose. Even the most ordinary of tasks are accomplished with an eye toward ensuring the overall success of the venture. For that time, at least, good enough is not good enough. Only the best will do. And the finished product is a work of art, exceeding the expectations of the participants, equal in value to far more than the sum of its parts.
I’ve been blessed to have been involved in several situations like this, and I know many of you have, too. In each case individual effort is contributed with humility and the glory goes to God. In these instances, the Lord shows us the power of unity in the body, and it’s like nothing else we ever experience because we know He’s in the midst of it.