brotherhood

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing: life forevermore.” Psalm 133

If we are made in the image of God and our Triune Lord is the ultimate picture of community, then unified brotherhood must be a beautiful expression of an awesome Creator. It is the closest glimpse I have ever had to truly grasping the Trinity and how He/They even work. In fact, Elohim, God’s first name in Genesis (Creator), is a plural name… signifying His three part self from the very first sentence of His Scriptures. He is Community and, as 1 John will later say, He is Love.

Brotherhood. Community. Family.

These things are holy. They were fashioned before the Fall, and though our sin tainted all Creation, they still exemplify the higher Entity that embodies them. The world in which we reside still recognizes love to be greater than all other things. Why else would they who are “dead” still get married? Have children? Have friendships? Have funerals?

They watch Oprah, Friends, Band of Brothers, Romeo and Juliet and every other depiction of unbreakable friendship as they long and ache for that to appear in their own lives… somehow filling the lonely, gaping hole in their heart.

The Lost recognize the greatness of love, though they cannot tap into it fully without Love Himself winning their souls.

Oh that He would save them – and once He does – let them overflow with a unifying love for brothers and sisters in the Lord and for the walking dead they encounter!

If we as Christ followers are to be imitators of the Son, and the Son is One with the Father and Spirit, then we too should be one with them. But since we, as blemished children, cannot (and most certainly should not) achieve that union, He has blessed us with the Church, with brotherhood, and a chance to be in the next best thing: unity.

This is why Adam had no companion until Eve was formed. This is why Jonathan’s soul was said to have been “knit” to David’s and why they loved each other more than their own selves. This is why the Mighty Men sacrificed themselves in protection of their king. This is why Silas stood his ground alongside Paul as they were captured and tortured time and time again. And this is why Luke continued to bind up their wounds without ever thinking twice.

This is why Jesus, our very Lord, prayed, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.”

It is in this unity that we get to witness the Trinity. This community glorifies God in a deeper way than most anything at all. Relationships are made of love and He is love. Therefore, this precious bond that ties us all together is an ancient, never ending, praise to the Lord.

This love is not surface level. It is built on vulnerability. On truth. On service. On encouragement. And, above all, on Christ. This not not love as the world calls it but a greater risk to ourselves and of a stronger power by the Spirit. Just as we die to ourselves for Christ's sake, we are to die to ourselves for the sake of others'. Honesty and sacrifice must reign in unity.

Oh that we would dwell in unity! Oh that we would not take friendship for granted or prioritize anything under God as more important. Paul spent so much of his epistles beating this into the young Church’s head. Let us never forget. Our love for each other is His creation. Our love for each other connects us to Him. Our love for each other worships God.

Father, make your children here in College Station one as you and Christ are One. Be glorified in us. Let us be intentional. Let us love hard. Let us push back the darkness.

Bless my house and my roommates. Reign in us and over us. Bring unity to us that comes only by Jesus’ name. Bless Daniel. Bless Nick. Bless Spencer. Make our home a place of refuge from the storms of life to all who enter its doors.

Brothers and sisters, enjoy each other today. Recognize your God in your friendships. We need to be praying hard. May Jesus be glorified!