Today's Devotional

August 17, 2005

Subject:  When We Get Along

Psalms 133:1 - "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Two nights ago as I kneeled down with my daughters to pray before bed, in our normal manner, one daughter prays first, followed by the other and then I finish.  On this occasion it was Caisa, the 6 year-old, who was first to pray.  Normally they give thanks for the day and pray for lots of family members, but on this night Caisa really warmed my heart and gave me another one of those "how God must feel" feelings.  As she prayed, she said, "...and dear Lord, thank you for my sister Caylah and she's a good big sister."  For anyone with siblings, you know the standard for those relationships is often, "tolerate-fight-get along for a little while" and then the cycle repeats.   

It not only affected me, but when it was Caylah, the 9 year-olds' turn to pray, she reciprocated by praying for her little sister. 

God likes it when we get along and pray for each other and simply love each other as children of His.  Within the church there is so often backbiting and fighting and contentions of all sort.  God is not pleased with His children when that happens.  With the power of the indwelling Spirit and the heart of a loving God and a common mission that calls for us to reach a lost and dying world, I wonder like Rodney King, "why can't we just all get along?"  It's so pleasant when we do. 

Carlen