United in Worship
One of God's greatest gifts to His church is the privilege of
worshiping together. Worship is the body of Christ gathering with one
purpose: to glorify God. As we lift our voices together, our hearts are
united around Jesus who is worthy of all praise.
Because worship strengthens the unity of the church, it also
becomes a target of the enemy. The enemy rarely begins with major
conflicts. Instead, he plants small seeds of pride, jealousy, criticism,
hurt feelings, and unforgiveness. If those seeds are not dealt with
quickly, they can grow into barriers that hinder both our fellowship
and our worship. Before long, our focus shifts from Christ to
ourselves, from serving others to protecting our own preferences.
The Apostle Paul urged us in Ephesians 4:1-6 to pay attention to our
Christian walk and be in unity. Notice that Paul says we should be
eager to keep the unity. God has already given it through His Spirit.
Our responsibility is to guard it by choosing grace, forgiveness,
patience, and love.
This is especially important for those who serve in worship ministry,
but it applies to every member of the church. Whether we sing in the
choir, work in the sound booth, greet at the doors, teach a class, or
sit in the congregation, we are all part of the same body. Every
person has a role, and every role matters.
Jesus said in John 13:35 says, “By this all people will know that you
are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Our unity is one
of the strongest testimonies we can offer. When people see believers
loving one another despite different personalities, backgrounds, and
preferences, they see the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
As a church family, let us be intentional about protecting that unity.
Refuse to participate in gossip. Be quick to forgive. Encourage one
another. Pray for each other. Choose humility over pride and grace
over criticism. Most importantly, keep your eyes fixed on Christ.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in
unity
Psalm 133:1