By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

The Body of Christ at Work!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!”
Psalm 133:1 English Standard Version

This is a picture of a group of Trinity men who worked together to build tiered seating for our church balcony.  We accomplished the actual building in less than three hours!  How could we do that so quickly?

To accomplish this task required several planning conversations, drawing out of the plans and material list, recruitment of the team, hauling the lumber, laying out the foundation, cutting and placing and nailing the boards, and cleanup.  And most important were the prayers before and after for “safety, harmony, and economy of motion.”

Have you ever worked with a team that had no unity?  It is not a pleasant experience!  But what can bring unity?  All of the above steps are important, but there is another underlying ingredient, that I did not mention.  Every man on that team agreed to submit their will to God and to one another.  There can be no unity unless all are humbled under God’s truth and grace.

That agreement in the Lord, in His plan and purpose, is essential in team unity.  Disharmony comes when every person does what is right in their own eyes, when selfishness and pride reign.  But in Christ Jesus, in His sacrifice for us on the cross, we find not only forgiveness of our sins, but the attitude that was in Him.  An attitude of humbleness, of sacrifice, of obedience, of love.

In Christ Jesus we have true unity.  In His love and grace for us there is agreement and peace and purpose.  In His sacrifice on the cross we find forgiveness and kindness and patience.  In Him brothers can dwell together in unity!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado