Psalm 133:1-3 How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard. Flowing down Aaron’s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life. [MSG]
Have you ever ordered a cup of coffee only to realize—too late—that the lid was not secured? Such was my experience at a recent All Employees Day at the college where I teach.
The Provost encouraged us to meditate on Psalm 133. She highlighted the psalmist’s description of the beauty and wonder believers share when they come together. As refreshing as dew in a desert place. As fragrant and inviting as sweet smelling oil. I sat there contemplating the imagery while drinking my coffee. That’s when I realized the ugly brown stains on my shirt. My white shirt. Evidently, every time I took a sip, the liquid from my cup spilled onto my clothes. Nothing beautiful or wonderful about that!
But it got me thinking of how my now coffee-stained attire resembled what disunity looks like. Factors like criticalness, grudges, and a need to control among believers leave stains as noticeable as those on my shirt. Rather than attracting others to Christ, they distract from the grace that makes unity possible. And what was meant to be holy becomes profane.
When it was time for a break, I confessed to the woman next to me that I didn’t want to leave my seat because of my ugly stains. Although I had never met her before, she insisted on getting me a new shirt with the school’s name, from a stack in her office. I could change shirts without embarrassment. Turns out, it fit perfectly and even matched my pants!
My new friend had covered for me. It was a beautiful, wonderful thing. Her kindness fell on me like morning dew, like priestly oil. Indeed, I felt God’s blessing through his servant.
I pray if you’re bearing the ugly stains of disunity, change shirts! Don’t let another person’s weaknesses distract you from the powerful call of God to each believer. So the world will know….