"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." II Cor. 13:11
Last week we began to consider the lines of thought stimulated by this text from Paul's benediction in his second epistle to the church at Corinth. We may distinguish four things emphasized and urged upon the saints then, and applicable to saints now. The first is, "be perfect"— Grow up. This, we noted, is not a plea for sinless perfection, but a call to spiritual maturity. The second is, "be of good comfort"— Cheer up. This is a call to victory through faith, by which the believer is able to rise above the circumstances of everyday life in "this present evil world," and maintain a bright testimony for Christ even in the face of adverse circumstances.
We continue today with the third, "be of one mind"— Line up. This is a call to spiritual unity in the fellowship of Christ, the family of God. This is less a matter of uniformity than of harmony. We will not all think alike on every issue, nor agree on every matter; but we can in the midst of our diversity seek the common goal of glorifying God and subordinating our differences of perspective to His will for the manifestation of "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace [Eph. 4:3]."
For this the Savior prayed: "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth…Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me [John 17:17, 20-21]." The implication is that if this unity is lacking, the world will be denied vital evidence of the person and work of Christ, and his alliance with the Father.
For this the apostle Paul pleaded: "I therefore the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," arguing on the strength of the truth of the real nature of the church as the body of Christ, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all [Eph. 4:1-6]."
A harmonious relationship between believers cannot be forced. It can only by found through a fellowship in which every member seeks the will of God above his own will, and every member submits to the authority of the Word of God, at the expense, if necessary, of his own self-interest. While this line of thought could be pursued at greater length, the above should provide sufficient evidence to stir each to ask himself, "Am I contributing to harmony or discord?"
The fourth pursuit we are here commanded to exercise is "live in peace"— Tune up. It is, obviously, intimately related to the foregoing. There will be no peace where there is no unity, no harmony among the believers. Jesus said, early in His ministry, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God [Mt. 5:9]." And it is the apostle Paul, again, who exhorts, "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another [Rom. 14:19]." You are either a peacemaker, or a troublemaker—which?
Grow up; Cheer up; Line up; Tune up. These might be considered mere novelties were it not for the promise with which they are associated: "…And the God of love and peace shall be with you." These are requisites to the realized presence of GOD in the life of the believer and the fellowship of the saints. Omit them, and you may have a body - of sorts - but it will be wanting the imperative direction and coordinating influence of its proper Head. And where that happens, you may advertise a "church," but it will be only a caricature of the real thing, and have no endorsement by the Lord of Life without Whom the body is merely a corpse.
Yours for HIS glory,
"Pastor" Frasier
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