“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”  Psalm 133:1

I can still remember what it was like to go on vacation with my parents, and my siblings — waiting for the moment when my father’s head would explode. You never knew when it would happen — but you knew it would come either before we left the house, or as soon as we arrived at our destination. Both of those moments were always fraught with tension — hooking up the camper and making sure we had all necessities — and trying to park the camper at the camp site. Of course the occasional bickering between my siblings and me did help. If you’ve had that kind of experience, you can imagine how G-d feels when we, the children of G-d, can’t get along. Getting along with each other is important to G-d. Jesus prayed that we would “be one” so that the world would believe He came from the Father (John 17:20-21). And to his disciples who were prone to disagreements and quarreling, Jesus commanded that they love and serve one another (John 13:34-35).

It should also be noted that among the seven things G-d hates, there is included “one who sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6:19). So I’m not surprised that the psalmist tells us that when brothers dwell in unity, it’s like “the precious oil upon the head, running down on . . . the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments” (Ps. 133:1-2). In ancient times, the oil of anointing was full of fragrant spices that graced the environment wherever the anointed one went. The oil I use today is just that kind of oil. As such, I hope and pray that the unity that comes from our love and service to one another fragrantly graces our families, churches, and friendships!

When love and kindness rule our lives,

And we are seen as one,

The fragrance of our unity

Has no comparison.  —Sper

How can you be a pleasing fragrant to someone in your family, work place or church this week? (Some of the thoughts in this devotion were taken from a devotion by Joe Stowell, Strength for the Journey, website.)

Pastor Dave

“For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:17-19

Veruca Salt, one of the not-so-sweet characters in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was notorious for demanding whatever she wanted. Her clueless parents didn’t know what to do, especially when they couldn’t comply. The result? A foot-stomping, arms-flailing, out-of-control tantrum.

Most of us have probably learned to control our tantrums, but our inner desires sometimes still get the best of us. We crave what we want until we get it—or get mad and depressed if we don’t. Yet, often what we think we really want is not actually a need at all. What we really are after is peace, security, and a deep-down sense of joy, purpose, and meaning in life. But with our eyes fixed on the next best thing, we miss the fact that what we really need is a deeper relationship with Jesus. Everything else is at best temporary and sometimes, quite frankly, not all that good for us.

This is why Jesus is so bothered with the Laodicean believers in Revelation 3:14-21. They thought they had gotten all they needed, but, in reality, they had forgotten their real need for Jesus. Could Jesus be a little annoyed with us for the same reason? Could it be that we are so consumed by the clutter of stuff and the clamor of our desires that we barely hear Jesus knocking?

Toward the end of His comments to the Laodiceans, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20) I love the fact that Jesus, though offended by our sense of flagrant independence, still wants us! He still longs for the intimate fellowship that occurred around the dinner tables of the ancient world. And don’t think you are off the hook just because you think that the knocking on the door metaphor is about non-Christians accepting Christ. Don’t miss the point! Jesus is talking to us in this text—specifically, to those of us who no longer feel the need to sing the old song, “I need Thee, O I need Thee, every hour I need Thee!”

If our needs today are all about physical treasures and temporal pleasures, we’ll assume that we’re fine without Jesus. But Jesus tells us that we’re not. And so He knocks and invites you to open the door of your heart to Him and to know that what you really need is deeper fellowship with Him. When we know that we can count on it, He will be sure that we have what our hearts truly long for.

Begin your journey today by asking the Lord to reveal the real needs of your heart and give you ears to hear Him knocking.

What “needs” have you been pursuing lately? (Some of the thoughts in this devotion were taken from a devotion by Joe Stowell, Strength for the Journey, website.)

Pastor Dave