Psalm 133

Reading for September 11, 2012          Psalm 133

When John Wesley sent his Circuit Riders to America, he told them their mission was to save souls and spread scriptural holiness across the land. By scriptural holiness, Wesley meant harmony with God. As Jesus prayed for his disciples, and us, he prayed for our unity, our harmony with God, so that our lives would be a witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ: “I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:23). I believe Jesus may have had the words of the psalmist in mind when he offered that prayer, “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133:1).

The Apostle Paul teaches that “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13). Through the Holy Spirit, God gives us “the mind of Christ” so we can understand and follow God’s work within us (1 Corinthians 2:16). The Apostle Peter gives us the practical application of Jesus’ prayer, “Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude” (1 Peter 3:8).

The overwhelming evidence, over two thousand years, is that the Christian church has failed miserably in following the teachings of Jesus, Paul and Peter. Why is it so difficult to follow this basic and seemingly simple teaching? It is because the nature of our sin that Jesus took to the cross is so insidious. Apart from Christ in us, we are completely self-centered. God’s will for us is that we would live self-sacrificing lives, focused on the needs of others, while we trust God to meet our needs. Our reality is that we live lives seeking personal gratification, as our lives are curved in on ourselves. It is for this fact of life in the flesh, that the Apostle Paul taught that our life in Christ comes only when we can affirm our “old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

It may have been for the lack of harmony with God and within our churches that G. K. Chesterton wrote, "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried." (Chapter 5, What's Wrong With The World, 1910)

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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Reading for September 12, 2012          Psalm 134