Where The Spirit Falls

Psalm 133

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! (Psalm 133:1)

IN EARLY 1726, the young Moravian community at Herrnhut was small, growing, and completely at peace. The religious refugees gathering there were grateful for the safety and security of the fellowship. But later in the year, when a couple of malcontents began sowing seeds of discord, the fellowship ruptured. People took sides. The sense of unity experienced in the early days was completely gone.

As leader of the community and lord of the manor, Count Zinzendorf exercised his authority and established conditions for living on the land and guidelines for relating to other members. He patiently won the hearts of those who had turned against him. People expressed forgiveness toward one another. And after a few months of peace, something happened. Zinzendorf led a prayer of confession, and others joined in. Hearts were opened. According to those present, the Spirit fell with the same power the first disciples experienced at Pentecost. People who formerly only tolerated others were now crying in their arms. Even members of the community who were traveling great distances at the time felt a shift in the Spirit and remembered the moment. The fellowship was radically transformed.

The Moravians are known today for their century-long prayer commitment and their missionary efforts that helped spark the modern missions movement. But those fruits came from a deeper root of unity. Jesus told his followers that the world would know them by their love for one another (John 13:35). When hearts are united in love, amazing things happen.

Never assume you will be able to fulfill your mission as a believer on your own. Your wisdom, power, and love are given by God in the context of fellowship. As the unity of your fellowship increases, so do the wisdom, power, and love—and every other fruit that comes as the body exercises spiritual gifts together. When God enters into the bonds of spiritual union with his people (John 17:21), we are empowered, and lives and worlds are changed.

{Father, forgive my judgments and divisive attitudes. Open my heart to those around me. Give me—give us—life-changing, world-changing love. Amen.