December 13, 2018 

READ: Psalm 133:1-3 

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! (v.1).

During a conference, believers in Jesus discussed differing perspectives on the relationship between Scripture and science. Although we disagreed about important matters, it was obvious the participants on all sides loved Jesus. We didn’t let our differences disguise our bond as members of God’s family. In fact, our unity seemed even sweeter because it shone within our differences.

As Jewish pilgrims walked up to Jerusalem to celebrate one of three annual festivals, they sang of this type of unity: “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” It “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” (Psalm 133:1-2). If this happened to me, I’d reach for some shampoo, but an Israelite would have understood. Aromatic oil was used to authorise and empower God’s prophets, priests and kings. It was a tangible sign the leaders belonged to Him.

Pouring oil on someone’s head isn’t a common practice these days, but the unity it symbolised still authorises and energises us. Unity also refreshes, like the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the arid hills of Jerusalem (v.3). Most significantly, Jesus said that when believers are united in love, the “world will know” that God loves them as much as He loves Jesus (John 17:23).

Thank God for like-minded believers who agree with us on disputable matters. But thank Him also for brothers and sisters who see things differently. They not only keep us seeking the Scriptures, but our differences supply an opportunity to rally around Jesus. How “wonderful and pleasant” it is to place our focus on Him!

—Mike Wittmer

365-day plan: 2 Timothy 1:1-18

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December 12, 2018 

READ: Matthew 5:43-48 

You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (v.48).

During two different semesters, I taught a “Discipleship Ministries” course to pastors and lay leaders at our local Bible college. As we were reading through the Sermon on the Mount, memorising Romans 12 and reading through Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy, one of my students said he’d been convicted. For the first time, he truly understood how Jesus wanted him to live out his faith in his workplace—a place where he’d often been tempted to harbour contempt towards moody and rude customers.

Throughout the Matthew 5 portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He repeats a variation of these words: “You have heard the law that says . . . But I say” (vv.21-22,27-28,31-32,33-34,38-39,43-44). Mostly well-intentioned religious leaders of the time had enacted laws and codes to help people follow God more intentionally. The people started believing, however, that following the rules—going through the motions—could make them pure and perfect.

But Jesus protested such theology. He said that if we’re striving to be like our heavenly Father—pure, perfect, holy (Matthew 5:48)—then it’s not enough to go through the motions on the outside. Obedience to God must be on the inside too—in our hearts (see Psalm 15:2, 51:10,16-17). Only then, when our hearts are filled with love for God and others, will we be on our way to becoming pure in our relationships.

My student told our class he knew Jesus was calling him to serve and love customers who mistreated him. It wasn’t enough to be “kind on the outside”, he said. Jesus, through the strength of the Spirit, was calling him to rid himself of internal contempt and bitterness towards others—to be changed from the inside out.

—Marlena Graves

365-day plan: 1 Timothy 6:3-21

(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)