Together
Everywhere you look these days it seems as though there is division. The enemy has put wedges of strife and enmity between people that seems overwhelming. Too often we find that we're fighting against one another when we should be fighting for one another, and it's tearing the fabric of our society apart as well as our relationships, especially our families. That's not a place where any of us want to live.
Joel and I have been married for over thirty years. We've raised two children together, built two houses together, built a business together, and now we're leading one of the greatest churches in the nation together. Together. When I look back, I can see that it's not because we're so smart or gifted. It's because we've walked together in peace and unity. Now that doesn't mean we agree on everything. We don't see eye to eye all the time. But we've agreed to walk together "with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1--3).
Why is it so important to keep the bond of peace in our lives? Because you will not agree with everyone all the time. We have to realize that doesn't make one person right and the other person wrong. We have to recognize that we are different people with different opinions and that this is what makes us different. But that doesn't have to fragment us. That does not have to cause us to be angry or bitter toward each other. We can maintain the bond of peace. That's where we find the common ground.
Who gives us this peace? The Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul said that "the kingdom of God is&...righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). You have to be in relationship with God before you can ever be in peace with anyone else. When you are at peace with God, you can be at peace with others. The Bible talks about God's presence reigning in peace through our lives. If you want the power of God in your life, maintain your relationships through the bond of peace. Peace doesn't hold grudges. Peace isn't bitter. Peace is willing to be wrong. Peace doesn't have to be right all the time. Peace doesn't have to have its own way. Peace is a place of power. Peace trusts. Peace believes the best. Peace is a beautiful thing.
Don't give in to what will divide you. Pursue unity. Chase peace down and maintain its bond with one another through love. Together.
Joel and I have been married for over thirty years. We've raised two children together, built two houses together, built a business together, and now we're leading one of the greatest churches in the nation together. Together. When I look back, I can see that it's not because we're so smart or gifted. It's because we've walked together in peace and unity. Now that doesn't mean we agree on everything. We don't see eye to eye all the time. But we've agreed to walk together "with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:1--3).
Why is it so important to keep the bond of peace in our lives? Because you will not agree with everyone all the time. We have to realize that doesn't make one person right and the other person wrong. We have to recognize that we are different people with different opinions and that this is what makes us different. But that doesn't have to fragment us. That does not have to cause us to be angry or bitter toward each other. We can maintain the bond of peace. That's where we find the common ground.
Who gives us this peace? The Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul said that "the kingdom of God is&...righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). You have to be in relationship with God before you can ever be in peace with anyone else. When you are at peace with God, you can be at peace with others. The Bible talks about God's presence reigning in peace through our lives. If you want the power of God in your life, maintain your relationships through the bond of peace. Peace doesn't hold grudges. Peace isn't bitter. Peace is willing to be wrong. Peace doesn't have to be right all the time. Peace doesn't have to have its own way. Peace is a place of power. Peace trusts. Peace believes the best. Peace is a beautiful thing.
Don't give in to what will divide you. Pursue unity. Chase peace down and maintain its bond with one another through love. Together.