2023 Lenten Season Week Two: Blessed Unity of the People of God by Bro. Taji Brown

Blessed Unity of the People of God by Bro. Taji Brown
Focus Scriptures:  Psalm 133:1-3

            "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." (Psalm 133:1) U. N. I. T. Y. that's a unity. I wonder if Queen Latifah really knew what she was saying back in 1993? "Behold!" This word translates into "Don't miss this!" The psalmist was a true lyrist himself I might add. He knew how to grab our attention right from the "get go." If you ask me, he was letting the reader know that something impressive and remarkable was to follow. Sure enough! The idea of brothers and sisters living amongst one another harmoniously came immediately after. "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." (Acts 2:1) As God's holy nation, we have to be agreeable in spirit and be joined together as a whole similar to Jesus's disciples. We can achieve this oneness when we, "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." (Romans 12:10) Coming into alignment and abiding together in Christ is a sure way to be strengthened as a family. The church should probably become our hangout. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

            So what is it like for brethren to dwell together in unity? "It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down in the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments." (Psalm 133:2) Let us consider "the head" in this scripture as "the Chief." "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ..." (1 Corinthians 11:3) Ephesians 5:23 puts it this way, "...Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body." That would make us the body. We all have different functions, yet we all play a vital part in assisting the Head (Jesus Christ). We also play a huge role in assisting our Pastors because they are the head of our local church. Just as the oil runs down Aaron's beard onto his garments, the oil on our Pastors trickles down onto us. We must be in position, no matter our condition, and do our part for the Kingdom of God. "But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you..." (1 Corinthians 12:20-21) No not so! We all need one another. We must strive to be more like Hezekiah Walker's song, "I Need You to Survive." (Google it) You know why? Simply because we share similar struggles and we have the same enemy (Satan). Therefore, our level of interdependence must increase because if one can slay 1,000 and two can slay 10,000; Then how many can the entire church slay?

So again I ask, what is it like for brethren to dwell together in unity? "It is like the dew of Hebron, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing----- Life forevermore." (Psalm 133:3) According to neonscience.org, as dew evaporates, it cools the plant down in much the same way that evaporating sweat cools your body on a hot day. This reminds me of drinking a cold glass of water during a heat wave. Not only that, this tells me that coming together on one accord is refreshing. "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:25) How precious it is to see blacks and whites, old and young, traditional and non-traditional believers unite under the auspices of Jesus Christ. One can only assume that this sort of integration is symbolic of heaven. Even at the end of Psalm 133 the Lord commanded a blessing, which is life forevermore. We will get to dwell with the Father and all His heavenly hosts for the rest of eternity. We will be able to abide in Christ forever. May this all be done on earth as it is in heaven. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10)