Day 18 (12 Mar 2020) – Experiencing life together

1) Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. 2) How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!

There’s a lot of fighting that goes on in the world, from kids fighting at school, to politicians fighting on TV, to countries physically fighting for life and death. Some people seem to have fighting in their blood, whilst others will avoid a fight at all costs – I fit in this second category! It might be an oversimplification, but I’d say that fighting seems to happen because of dislike and/or disagreement.

Yet God makes it clear that He doesn’t want His people to be known as those who fight with each other. In Col 3:15, Paul encourages the church that they’re called to live in peace! And in Ps 133 we find an exhortation for us to live together in harmony. This all points to the reality that God’s design is for people to get along, to see past differences, to forgive, to empathise, and ultimately to live in peace. As the church we are to champion this reality, demonstrating to those around us what living in peace and harmony looks like. This means we should live lives of genuinely caring for one another, of going deeper in our conversations, of letting others in to our lives, of speaking well of each other, of giving up our own desires for the good of others, and of bearing one another’s burdens. Is this not what Jesus demonstrates to us?

Jesus, thank You that Your Kingdom is a kingdom of peace and harmony. Thank You for showing us how powerful Your perfect love is in overcoming disharmony and disagreement. Help us as Your body to live in peace and to truly love one another, and in doing so, glorify You! Amen.

Written by Ps. Matt Samperi