Blessed Unity
“But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, ‘Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, “The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land.” 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.’”
Today’s Text: Joshua 1:10-18 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
Israel was experiencing one of the high points of their spiritual vitality from the end of their wilderness wanderings to the initial stages of their conquest of the promised land. We see that spiritual vitality play out in the unity and cooperation of the tribes of Israel.
First of all, when the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh asked for the territory that the Israelites had conquered east of the Jordan, Moses and the remaining tribes of Israel agreed to let them have that land. They did not have to. Neither did they hold a grudge against them for even asking such a thing. Furthermore, if the remaining tribes refused to grant the request, the requesting tribes themselves might have held on to that grudge.
Second of all, the two-and-one-half tribes were ready and willing to fight together with the rest of the tribes, as if they were fighting for their own land.
Psalm 133:1 goes, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
And not only to live in unity, but to work together in unity to fulfill the purposes of God.
Churches should not compete against one another, but rather should work together to help one another fulfill the purposes of God. That is why it is good for us to partner with other churches when we go on mission trips. That is why our participation with other SBC churches in the SBC and the Long Beach Harbor Southern Baptist Association is so sweet. That is why we partner with other churches in worship and fellowship for One Table Fellowship at Watts Powerhouse Church every other month. We had the largest gathering so far on Sunday.
Internally, house churches should not compete against one another either. And it would please God greatly for the house churches to work together to encourage, strengthen, and grow all the house churches.
Not that the our house churches are in rivalry with one another. They’re not. And not that there is disunity between the house churches. There isn’t. However, I believe that having a culture of active cooperation and unity would propel us to another level of fruitfulness.
We would see more people being saved. We would see more people getting plugged into our Canvas family. We would see more people stepping up to serve. We would see more people worshiping with passion and praying with urgency. This is my prayer for Canvas. Join me in that prayer.
Father, You are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. And it pleases You so much when Your people are in unity according to Your purpose and Your will. Build up a strong culture of unity and cooperation in Canvas, as we see in the Israelites in the days of Joshua. Propel us to the next level of fruitfulness and holiness. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
