James 5
Jeremiah 29-30
Psalm 133
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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading
Psalm 133 is about the importance of unity among believers. The following is quoted from my mother's and my co-authored book, Called to Canaan Vol 3:
True unity is perhaps best expressed and understood in the Greek word koinonia.
Koinonia is a transliterated form of the Greek word, κοινωνία, which means communion, joint participation; the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, etc. It identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within the Christian church, the Body of Christ.
The word koinonia appears 19 times in most editions of the Greek New Testament. In our English Bibles, it is translated as “fellowship,” “sharing,” “unity,” “participation” and “contribution.”
True unity, or koinonia, begins with a joining of the faithful believers in unity with Yahshua and one another. This union is also experienced in practical daily life. The same bonds that link the individual to Yahshua also unite him with like-minded, fellow believers. These bonds are so vital and genuine that a deep level of intimacy can be experienced among the members of the Fellowship of Believers.
The first usage of koinonia in the Greek New Testament is found in Acts 2:42-47, where we find a striking description of the deep unity shared by the early Christian believers:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the communion, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
In nature... koinonia is perhaps best illustrated by geese. When we see geese heading south for the winter, flying in their familiar “V” formation, we see... the exemplary “togetherness” of migrating geese. Like Israel in the desert, geese function with order, design and inspiring unity. They look after one another as they make their epic journey.
Science reveals that, as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift aiding the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a “V” formation, the flock together expends less energy, gaining over 70% more flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Moving together in a sense of community allows individual strengths to encourage and aid others in the group.
Whenever one goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It will quickly work to get back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front. Similarly, we Christians encourage and strengthen one another in our journey to ultimate Canaan. This is one reason we were instructed to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25), for a cord of many strands is not so easily broken.
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back in the formation, and
another takes over the point position for a time. Whichever geese happen to be
behind, support the leader by honking constantly. One reason for this is to
encourage those up front to keep up their pace.
Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded, and falls out of the formation, two geese follow it down to stay with it and protect it. They stay until the goose is either able to fly again, or dies. They then launch out on their own or with another formation, making effort to catch up with their original group.3
Dr. Vance Havner, who provided sermon material for ministers for several decades, once said, “Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together they can stop traffic.”
THE POWER OF KOINONIA
Like the geese, who strengthen and aid each other in migration, members of the Body of Christ strengthen and edify each other through godly koinonia. Without it, believers will be less likely to survive the future battles coming in this dangerous final segment of our spiritual journey. This is why we we are counseled to live in koinonia, as it states in Hebrews 10:24-25:
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching, Hebrews 10:24-25.
Yahshua prayed that His
followers would experience true koinonia, finding unity with God and one
another.
Yahshua prayed that His
followers would experience true koinonia, finding unity with God and one
another.
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