We all have the ability to bring people closer together with
our actions or pull people away. There was a college basketball team a couple
of years ago in which the team just missed the NCAA tournament after going 20-9.
The next season they were supposed to be a major team that was going to go far
in the tournament. Instead the team went 9-23. The team’s best player that was
up for a national player of the year honor couldn’t hit a shot. He would still
score 25 a game but it would take 30 shots to make it happen. They stopped
working together and fell apart. The same thing can happen in our lives and in
the church when we don’t fight for unity.
Unity is important in our lives and in church. Paul tried to
bring to church in Thessalonica back together in the end of his book. Paul
shares this in 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give
you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. I, Paul,
write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my
letters. This is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
all.”
There was a lot of division in the church and Paul’s goal
was to bring the people together. The truth is what Paul hoped the individuals
and the church would find. This truth was God’s will. If the people focused on
this truth, the problems would go away. Paul often wrote to a scribe like
figure and the fact Paul wrote the end of this book stands out. Paul wanted to
unite the people.
We can bring peace. This section of scripture focuses on the
matters inside the church, but can apply to our overall lives.
In our lives ask yourself…
Am I promoting unity or not?
At home?
At work or school?
With our friends?
With people we don’t care for?
We have the chance to bring peace in our lives.
That basketball team didn’t have unity, but the coach and
team worked at it and the following year, they made the NCAA tournament and had
the biggest win total change in college basketball. When we live in peace, good
things happen.
How can you make peace happen in your life?
Have a great day.
