Monday, February 3, 2020

Pastor's Pondering, February 3, 2020

Let Us Be On One Accord

Ms. Josephine Harvey wrote an article in the 1/28/2020 issue of U.S. News entitled, “Bystanders Lift SUV Off Of Pinned Woman In Dramatic Manhattan Rescue.”  She wrote, “…almost a dozen people were seen running across a street on the Lower East Side to collectively heave the vehicle onto two wheels in order to rescue a trapped woman…”  The victim survived the ordeal and was taken to the hospital.  These noble rescuers truly demonstrated the saying, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

What really stood out in this article was that these were people just standing in the area who could have just as easily turned and walked away.  They ran to the trapped woman when they could have just morbidly watched to see what would happen.  Seemingly they worked together to rescue someone in need. 

There is something powerful that happens when a group comes together in one accord.  In the Bible, the Lord God came down to see a group that decided to build a tower to Heaven, and He stated that nothing would be impossible for them while they are united (Genesis 11:5-6).  In the New Testament, Jesus prayed to the Father that His disciples would be one as He and the Father were one (John 17:21-23).  In another passage, Jesus declared that if two people would agree asking anything in His Name, He would give it to them (Matthew 18:19).  Finally, God demonstrated the power of unity when the disciples received the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Today our politics are riven with disunity. Even proven and accepted scientific laws are no longer accepted.  Ancient educational standards are uprooted daily. It seems there is more joy in hostility and animosity than in understanding and unity. Let us join together and declare that we will be those who are searching for common ground and that we can disagree agreeably.  Let us be on one accord. 

Genesis 11:5-6
New International Version (NIV)
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.
The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

John 17:21-23
New International Version (NIV)
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one
23 
I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Matthew 18:19
New International Version (NIV)
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Acts 2:1-4
King James Version (KJV)
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.



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