Rise Up
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! ~Psalm 133:1 ESV
My wife and I decided to have biscuits for breakfast. We also wanted our biscuits to rise up.
We pulled out the can and read the baking directions. Two options presented themselves: separate the biscuits so they didn’t touch, or let them touch so they would be unified—as if we were baking a single biscuit. Knowing we wanted taller biscuits, we chose the latter. Who doesn’t want yummy biscuits that are sky-high?
But unity is important for more than biscuit-making. Through unity, businesses succeed, sports teams win championships, and, most importantly, the body of Christ grows. When we are in one accord with Jesus Christ, this unity draws others to Christ.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ~Acts 2:1-3 NKJV
The early church multiplied by over three thousand souls in a single day. When unification is the driving force, people respond. The gospel message reached far and wide because the church body was unified.
Then those who gladly received his [Peter’s] word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ~Acts 2:41-42
The world observes us. When we are unified with the Word of God and compassionate toward one another, we can effectively reach people for Christ.
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. ~1 Peter 3:8 NKJV
Without unity, my wife and I would have had ordinary biscuits, but instead, they were tender, fluffy, and huge. Similarly, we must aim to stir one another up in the church body to be in unity with the Word. We must also be kind to each other. United, we can be like the tall biscuits my wife and I enjoyed.
Think of one trait you can emulate to remain unified with the body of Christ.
Heavenly Father, help me to stay focused on knowing Your Word and having unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and humility to my brothers and sisters in Christ. By doing this, I can be unified with fellow believers. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Genre: Non-fiction
Copyright 2021: Rise Up: Ed Chappelle: All Rights Reserved

