Harmony

How wonderful and pleasant it is

when brothers live together in harmony!

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.

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

WE WANT OUR CHILDREN to have good friends and a happy life. But we want more than that. We want them to live in deep relationship with brothers and sisters in Christ. We want them to experience the lifelong belonging, refining, and dependence upon God that comes from living life in the body of Christ.

That’s what the psalmist celebrates in Psalm 133. In a sense he is reflecting on the good life. He sees that it is not what the world around him says it is. Instead it is a life lived among God’s people, enjoying the forgiveness and cleansing that are made available through our great High Priest. The good life is experiencing the day-to-day refreshment of Christ in the midst of a society that is parched with thirst. To share the blessings of forgiveness and cleansing with brothers and sisters is truly wonderful and pleasant. Surely this must be at the heart of our desires for our children now and into the future.

Lord, I want so much more for ________ than simply a fulfilling career, a solid marriage, a nice house, a respected name, and a series of accomplishments. I want ________ to drink deeply of the refreshing spring found in a life bound to other believers. Would you plant ________ deeply in your church, among your people? Would you give ________ a heart to persevere in the body when things get hard? Would you help ________ to see that the good life is found among people who recognize their need for forgiveness and their need for the refreshment that comes only from you?