We Stand Strong Together

 

DAILY VITAMIN

- We Stand Strong Together 

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not anyone to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Nothing holds the fort better than a United front. Unity makes us stronger; whether as a family, a church, an organization, or what have you. Unity keeps us firm. Little wonder Jesus' prayer for the Church was for oneness amongst us all (John 17:21). And soon enough we understood why. 

The scripture says they were all of "one heart and of one soul" (Acts 4:32); and as a result no one lacked anything. They hid each other's weaknesses and augmented their strengths as well. But more importantly as a product of this, great grace was greatly experienced amongst them all (v. 33). And that is what our theme scripture was denoting when it reveals that together we are not easily broken. 

We are stronger when we are together. When we pray together, having a heart that is congruent with one another, no craftiness of the enemy will be able to outsmart us. In fact, the very reason why the gates of hell could not prevail is because the Church is built into togetherness on the solid foundation of Christ. Understand that no house can stand with all its parts dissociated, they must be in joint; for no two can walk perfectly unless they be agreed (in unity) (Amos 3:3). So when Jesus spoke of that, He had our being united in mind. Never forget that. Be it in your life as a family, in your work community, or in church, if we don't stick together mind and body, we might as well fall apart. 

Let's end with this observation from Paul's words. As the turbulence on and around the Alexandrian ship grew worse, the crew tried to flee, but Paul warned the officer-in-charge that "Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved" (Acts 27:31). He dissuaded them from separating from one another. Note, in other words, we are all in this 'ship' together, and we are all important to keep it sail and afloat. Hence, next time you think of letting strife get the better of you, or involving yourself in any form of disparity against the mission and purpose of the group or God's will, recall that "except these abide [in unity], you cannot be saved"; for as it turned out, in unity "they escaped all safe" (Acts 27:44).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of peace and unity we enjoy as a family, as a church, and as a nation. I thank you because it is by your mighty hand that we are held together. And I thank you because no one can snatch us from your hands nor cause divisiveness in our midst. I receive grace to walk continually in the auspices of your mighty mercies towards us all. In Jesus Name. Amen.