A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
Scripture for the Day – July 31, 2020
Psalm 133:1-3: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.
A little over six years ago, my oldest daughter Kasey and I had the honor and privilege of meeting with several campus ministry leaders during a student ministry conference in Bogota, Colombia. Bogota has an estimated population of almost 8 million people and has 113 higher education institutions. With its many universities and colleges, Bogotá has in the past been called “The Athens of South America”. This reputation draws students from all over South America and the world. Getting pastors and ministry leaders to work together is a hard enough thing to do, as I have learned; but when combined with the task of trying to reach and then disciple several hundred thousand students in a city of 8 million, it can become overwhelming.
I shared with these leaders that according to Psalm 133, God would command His blessing on the churches and ministry leaders if they would start working together. Ephesians 4:14-16 says, “We should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
We have allowed our doctrines and differences to overshadow our commonality, which is Jesus. We don’t have to all agree on everything to be able to sit down and fellowship together as Christian ministers. We need only to believe that according to Romans 10:9-10, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
As Christian leaders, we can all gather around the table and agree that Jesus Christ is Lord! Ephesians 4:3 says we need to be, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” In Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi, he states in Philippians 2:1-4, ”Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
As I looked out a window on the streets of Bogota and saw the thousands of people coming and going, I couldn’t help but think about the challenge that was ahead. It moved me to tears. As I left the leaders’ meeting I prayed, “Lord Jesus, You said without You we can do nothing; but with You, all things are possible.”
