Live It Up
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
For there the Lord bestows his blessing…
Psalm 133:1 & 4a (NIV)
I got caught up in my grandsons’ excitement on a recent trip to the zoo. The oldest one loves the Reptile House so, of course, he made certain we headed there first. He marveled over every snake, lizard, turtle, and creepy crawly thing.
Although my two-year old grandson liked the Reptile House just fine, he got excited over something quite different. Because of the Texas heat we saw a lot of huge fans hanging from the many awnings scattered around. The only way we could get him to leave one of those areas was to promise to find more fans. My oldest grandson and I could not help but laugh, but we did start looking earnestly for more fans.
Although the two boys had different interests during that particular experience, neither of them minded participating in what intrigued the other. They both allowed their sibling to enjoy his thing with patience and kindness. That made this grandmother’s heart happy and the trip to the zoo amazingly pleasant.
Just as my grandsons cooperated with each other, God wants us to participate in this life with other believers in the same way. We do not have to like all the same things, but we can still treat each other with patience and kindness. We can still show interest in others’ interests. Doing so blesses us and the people around us by creating an encouraging environment – the very environment God desires for us.
The best way to “live it up” is to live together in unity. God does not merely tell us this so we will have one more command to obey, but for our own good. Life will prove much more pleasant when we do not criticize, look down on, or judge other believers.
Father, thank you for the other believers you put on our paths. Help us to allow them to bless us as we bless them with your loving kindness and “pleasantness.”
Susan Partida
