Striving Toward Unity
Almost every successful company or group in history has shared something in common: they all had a unifying mission.
As Christians, we all share the same mission. We are unified in following Christ. We're saved by His blood (Romans 5:9) and we're all called to make disciples in His name (Matthew 28:19).
And yet, even among Christians, there is so much division and disunity.
In Psalm 133:1, Psalmist reflects on how good it is when the people of God live together in unity. There is something powerful that happens among Christians when we are unified.
Unity is not putting away our differences, because there would be no need to be unified if we were all the same. No, unity is coming together with our differences and striving to make much of Jesus together.
We can accomplish so much more for God’s kingdom together than we can alone. But, we must strive for unity to make that happen. Life's better when we work together.
Take a moment to consider the people in your life who might be different from you. What steps can you take today to build a greater sense of unity with those around you? Consider a few ways that you can make Jesus famous in your life through the relationships and communities that you’re in.
The Name of the Lord
Have you ever thought about the meaning of your name? The meaning of a name is more important in some cultures than others. In Scripture, the meaning of a name can tell you a lot about a specific person or the character of that person.
Similarly, the name of the Lord is not just a common name. The Lord’s name is meant to carry the identity, character, and actions of God. That is why Scripture tells us to call upon the name of the Lord as a means of help and comfort.
God’s name tells us who He is. He is God, the Creator and Ruler of everything on the earth. He is the one who is above everything else in all the earth. That means He is more powerful and more wise than anyone else too.
God’s name also tells us about His character. We learn in Scripture that God is faithful, merciful, loving, and strong—His presence is a place of protection for those who follow Him.
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 NIV
God’s ...