Live in Unity 和睦同居

[Dexu Xia]

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

A dozen teams, each including three people standing shoulder to shoulder, prepared for the four-legged race. Each outside person bound to the person in the middle by colorful rags at their ankles and knees, every trio locked their eyes on the finish line. When the whistle blew, the teams lunged forward. Most of them fell and struggled to regain their footing. A few groups chose to hop instead of walk. Some gave up. But one team delayed their start, confirmed their plan, and communicated as they moved forward. They stumbled along the way but pressed on and soon passed all the teams. Their willingness to cooperate, step by step, enabled them to cross the finish line together.

Living for God within the community of believers in Jesus often feels as frustrating as trying to move forward during a four-legged race. We often stumble when interacting with people who hold different opinions from us.

Peter speaks of prayer, hospitality, and using our gifts to align ourselves in unity for life ahead. He urges believers in Jesus to “love each other deeply” (1 Peter 4:8), to be hospitable without complaining, and to “serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (v. 10). When we ask God to help us communicate and cooperate, we can lead the race in showing the world how to celebrate differences and live together in unity.

By:  Xochitl Dixon

When have you struggled to work with someone who was different from you? How has God helped you?

Mighty God, please help me communicate and cooperate with others as I learn to love like You. 

看哪，弟兄和睦同居，是何等的善，何等的美！—诗篇133篇1节

现场有十多支队伍，每队由三人组成，三人并肩站立，准备进行三人四足绑腿赛跑。站在中间的人与站在他左右的人在脚踝和膝盖处，用彩色布条紧紧地绑在一起，每个队伍都将目光锁定在终点线上。哨声一响，各个队伍都往前冲。大多数人都跌倒而且很难再站起来，一些队伍选择跳跃而不是步行，有些人则干脆放弃。但其中一队却稍微延迟开始，他们先确定了策略，然后在前进的过程中互相沟通、同心协力。虽然他们一路跌跌撞撞，但仍坚持继续前进，很快地，他们就越过了其他队伍。他们因为愿意彼此合作，一步步向前迈进，使他们能够一起冲过终点线。

在基督徒的群体中为上帝而活，有时会让人感觉就像在三人四足的赛跑中试图前进一样，令人沮丧。当我们与意见不同的人互动时，常会一路磕磕绊绊。

彼得谈到祈祷、款待，以及运用自己的恩赐，使我们在世上的日子能与主内肢体合而为一。他敦促信徒要“彼此切实相爱”（彼得前书4章8节）；互相款待，不抱怨；要“彼此服事，作上帝百般恩赐的好管家”（10节）。当我们祈求上帝帮助我们与人沟通和合作时，我们可以向世人展示如何欣赏彼此的差异，同时又能团结一致，和谐共处。

作者：  邓书琪

你曾在何时经历与你差异很大的人共事的困难？上帝如何帮助你？

全能的上帝，当我学习像祢一样去爱人的时候，求祢帮助我与他人沟通、合作