Harmony

I like this word. It has multiple meaning all of which are pleasant.  In music, harmony is a blend of tones that make a melodious chord that is pleasing to the ear. Harmony takes music and song to a whole new level of excellence. Harmony means at its core – agreement, accord, a congruent order. Harmony is cooperation, unity, peace, friendship, rapport and much more. Harmony is a word with broad meaning and application. King David pens a psalm that describes harmony among brothers or family. It made my heart smile because my parents grew up in a large family; I grew up with four other siblings and I am Dad to five wonderful kiddos. Harmony in family is wonderful and sweet. As we grow up, we learn about harmony, as we sort out life and try to figure things out. Check this out….

¹ How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
² For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
³ Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting. (Psalm 133:1-3 NLT)

I’ve never really thought that a beard was all that. I grew a beard a few times and I enjoy not shaving nearly as much.  I would trim it every few days. I’ve had a goat-tee for many years and I don’t necessarily think oil running down face, over my head is that special. I believe that David was referring to the sweetness of the moment when Aaron was set aside as the spiritual leader of God’s people. He became the very first High Priest for the Lord and the people where respectful and their relationship with God was very harmonious.

I think it breaks God’s heart when His people are at odds with one another. There are churches who appear to hate other churches. I think this is wrong on so many levels. How can the church be the church without love and harmony? Harmony is broken when everything becomes about me.  If one person in the mix thinks it’s about them, harmony can’t happen. If a family member starts making everything about him or her, harmony leaves the house. Harmony requires all parties to cooperate and make a decision to work together for a common goal. I believe harmony is a hallmark characteristic of a Christ follower. I believe God loves to see His people in harmony with one another.

John penned some words in his epistle that have reminded me that love brings harmony among all sorts of people from different walks in life. Check this out….

⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. ⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.(1 John 4:7-10 NLT)

The church should be the picture of harmony.

The family should be the picture of harmony.

As far as it depends on me, my relationships should be a picture of harmony.

Pressing On!

Dwayne