Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
You could think that our Verse of the Day is just a given. Of course it's wonderful, right? We can't take for granted that brothers didn't necessarily always have a history of dwelling together. From literally the beginning of time, there's Cain and Abel. There was Jacob and Esau. There's Joseph and his brothers. Even Abraham and Lot couldn't live in the same house and couldn't stay in the same place.
We can't take for granted that peace and harmony were just a given. If we're honest with ourselves, peace and harmony isn't always a given today either. This song in the book of Psalms is really speaking out to us from the heart of God about something that's important, something to behold, something to marvel at.
Good and Pleasant: Two Different Things
Now something that stands out that we need to look at and really unpack about this is it uses the words "good" and "pleasant." That's two different things. Even though they may be related, they speak to two entirely different things.
Good speaks to a moral code or compass. It's saying it's good for us to do this. It is the right thing to do in order to please God.
Pleasant is an entirely different thing. It's about bringing real joy to God's heart, and nothing is going to bring God's heart more joy than watching His children literally gather together, eat together, fellowship together, serve together, unified through the bond that we have in Christ Jesus.
It Makes God's Heart Glad
If you're going to have a healthy relationship with God, you must a have a healthy relationship with His children because that makes His heart glad.
I'm a parent. One of the things I dislike most is when my two sons—beautiful baby boys—are at each other's throats so often, and that dampens my spirit.
A Memory of My Sons
Then there was one day I can never forget. I was just doing some chores, trimming some hedges, and I came around the house. They're sitting together under the shade tree, having an apple. It looked like a scene from Pioneer Times, and they had their arms around each other, and they were just laughing and living harmoniously together.
That made my heart glad as a father. I cannot imagine how much more glad it makes our Father's heart when He sees His children together, living in peace, in harmony.
Good and Pleasant for You
Guess what? Not only does it make His heart glad, it is good and it's pleasant. It's good and it's pleasant for you. When you are together in a right community, you got protection. You have encouragement.
When the enemy gets you isolated, that's where he wants you. He has you right where he wants you because he can speak lies over you and make you believe false narratives.
The Gift of Community
When you have spiritual brothers and sisters who you're living together with, they can remind you of God's truth. They can remind you of your worth. They can remind you even if you made a mistake, His love for you. They can hold you up. They can lift you up. They can hold your arms and they can carry you.
How good and pleasant it is when we live together in harmony, because we make God's heart glad. We put a smile on His face.
Help Each Other Finish the Race
We have exactly what we need: the gift that God gave us of our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us on our own journey.
You want to finish the race? Let people help carry you when your legs get heavy. You want to reach the goal. Let brothers and sisters push you, encourage you, inspire you so that you can get exactly where you're going.
You want to make God proud? Live together in harmony with your brothers and sisters. Not only because it's right, but because it brings peace to your life.
Don't Let the Past Hold You Back
This principle can change everything for you if you lean in. I know you might have been hurt by people before. I know you've been scorned. You're not necessarily open to new relationships.
Listen to me. Don't allow past circumstances and lies of the devil to keep you from this gift God has given you. You cannot allow that situation or past circumstance to define where God is taking you. That's a past situation. That was that church and that was those people. That is not an excuse to not get in biblical community with God's children.
Go find your community. Go live in harmony and go be at peace.
