By GARY ANDREWS
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Not long ago I attended a Bible study one of my friends, Paul, held in his home. This was a unique Bible study in that the men attending were not from the church Paul attends. These men came from all walks of life and some of them drove over 30 miles to attend this study, which is held every week.
Paul delivered a message about being in unison with God. Jesus tells us in the gospel of John 17:20-23:  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
Not too many times are we going to hear a sermon on being in unison with God because there are not many of us who are in total unison with God. In most cases it is when we want to be in unison that we say we are in total unity with our Lord and Savior.
God wants us to be in unison with Him in everything we do or say. The problem is that we are so wrapped up in worldly needs and possessions that we don’t stop to think what the Lord wants us to do. We hardly ever discuss with God our intentions through business dealings, social interactions, or family matters.
This is the biggest problem facing us as we live these few days on earth. God wants to be in total control of our life, but we live our life as if He isn’t watching what we do. Many families have gone through divorce because of immoral and unfaithful activities. Lying, deceit, and unethical values have ruined many business dealings. Many of us get so wrapped up in what the world wants instead of us looking to the Lord for guidance and strength.
Our country has a taken a step backward in some of the laws our elected officials have allowed to pass. Our schools are taking on a new look because of the shady teachings we are allowing to be taught. There are many unwed mothers going to high school today because family values are not being taught at home and these wayward parents are allowing our schools to promote values for our children.
How can our young learn to live in unity with each other, much less be in unison with God, when family morals and values, along with government systems, schools, and to some degree, our churches allow worldly ideas and factions to control. Even the upright and outstanding spiritual leaders have been taken to task because of some of their actions and decisions.
Our world, country, state, or cities will never be in complete agreement on everything, and one thing we can all bank on is that there will never be harmony and peace when God is left out of our lives.
We need more in home Bible studies where the truth is taught and the Word of God is revered. God’s people need to come together and become one in total unity with our Lord Savior. Then and only then will be have peace among our families, children, co-workers, cities, nations, etc. Then and only then are we going to see moral values and high ethics once again become the norm.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for allowing us to be in total unity with you. Forgive us for the misguided lives that we live and the distance we have put between our thinking and your desire. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday – Genesis 13:8; Monday – Ephesians 4:1-6; Tuesday – Ezekiel 37:15-23; Wednesday – Philippians 4:1-9; Thursday – 2 Chronicles 7:14-16; Friday – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24; Saturday – Colossians 3:12-17.)
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals. com.