Harmony (2 Cor 13:11-12)

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:11–12, ESV)

Once I gave a sermon where I played the guitar as an introduction. I just played the chords and rhythm of a familiar praise and worship song. Yet what I did was to first play the chords wrong by shifting my left hand one fret down the neck for each chord in the song. What I played sounded horrendous. Then I played the chords correctly on the correct frets and things sounded beautiful. The point was to show what the music would sound like when each string was in harmony with the others and what it would sound like when each string was not. All the musicians in the congregation got it and I think that most of the others did also.

The church is to play a song in harmony. I am not speaking of music but the harmony of the people. Consider every person in the congregation as a string on a musical instrument. What kind of spiritual sound will emanate if they are not in harmony. Paul concludes his letter with a statement. these things are those which resonates when every member of a congregation is in harmony with the others. Rejoicing brings great harmony to a church. Yet rejoicing will not happen where there is not a spirit that will aim for restoration, comforting one another, agreeing with one another, and living in peace with one another. These are essential for the manifestation of God’s love and peace in a church.

I have seen too many churches crumble with disharmony. In these congregations, there was bitterness, an unforgiving spirit, dissention, and a host of other ills. Do not be the person who cannot live in harmony with others in your congregation. Yes, there will be times when people will disagree about issues in the church. Yet true Spirit filled believers will not be characterized by the relational sins that so characterize the unsaved world.

Strive for harmony in the church. Be the blessed and fine-tuned spiritual instrument that God has called you to be. What the world around you needs to hear is beautiful spiritual music emanating from a congregation where all the strings, that is the parishioners, are playing a beautiful chord in harmony.