Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

.... For brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1)! Unity, we are not talking here about mere tolerance of each other, nor are we talking about either uniformity or conformity, we are talking more about harmony, which is a “pleasant” aggregation of those who are  different, as with a  chord in music.  This unity is compared to  Aaron's consecration with oil (verse 2). This oil was composed of several rich spices mixed together in such a way as to produce a pleasing fragrance.  It is expressive of “unanimity and concord, in a well-cemented society; all jointly conspiring and contributing, according to their various capacities, tempers, and conditions, to the good of the whole” —Benson.

The pressures to conformity (rather than unity) both inside and outside of the church are enormous.  And the default,  as our political and denominational systems demonstrate is polarization,  the devision into factions. Though the world denies the existence of truth, nevertheless it divides over its own particular truth, its own particular view of the world. The Protestant church tends to divide over  theological truth, and as the names of the denominations imply,  tends to emphasize just one truth out of the many multifaceted truths of Scripture.  And Biblical truth, like our Trinitarian Creator,  is often found only in unity in differences, and heresy too often is truth out of balance. Division is also often the result of majoring on minors. But also, the places where the true church (as opposed to the visible church) agree, are far more important and prolific,  than the places where we disagree.   We cannot however be in unity with those who twist the Scriptures to make them fit their own agendas.

Showing it importance, Jesus high priestly prayer,  just before His crucifixion,  majored on our unity. He prayed that we might be one, just as He and the Father are one.  And He gave the World the right to judge, by our unity,  that the Father had sent Him  (John 17:21). In other words our unity is paramount to evangelism. No wonder Paul admonished us,  to as much as is within us to be at peace with all (Romans 12:18).  We don't have to create unity, He has already done that by abolishing the dividing walls between us.  That is why we are told to do our very very best to maintain the unity that Christ purchased for us on the cross. And we are to do this with all  humility and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (Ephesians 2:14; 4:2,3).

Lord Jesus, it is only as we walk in the light as You are in the light that we will have fellowship and unity among ourselves (1 John 1:7). So Lord I come before You this morning for myself,  and on behalf of Your true church, to confess that we have not been eager to maintain the unity that You purchased for us at such great cost.  We have allowed  pride of orthodoxy and other things, to sabotage Your work on the cross,  and accordingly,  as You gave them the right to do, the world has refused to believe that You the Son of God came down from heaven to redeem us. Forgive us Lord, and turn us again, at this Christmas season,  to walk in humility,  gentleness and unity, bearing with one another in love. May this bring You the glory and the harvest that You so richly deserve. We pray these things Lord  in Your precious Name Amen