A Great Illustration of Unity

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12

Welcome to a new week of Freedom Fighter blogs. Our prayer is that this daily blog will encourage you to walk in victory in your daily Christian life.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday was a highlight in my ministry. America’s Keswick is celebrating the 117^th anniversary of the founding of the Colony of Mercy (which we will talk about on Thursday) and for our banquets on our campus we brought together 5 very gifted pianists to present an evening and afternoon of praise. (You can visit our website @ www.americaskeswick.org and watch the archived programs)

It was my privilege to play with four incredible musicians: Carolyn Hibbard, Michael Faircloth, Robert Hayes and Dick Tunney. Each of these musicians have their own unique keyboard styles. My 18 year-old son cracks me up because whenever he hears one of them on my Ipod, he can easily identify who is playing because of their unique style.

Each of the four have their own CD’s, have put together their own arrangements, and have their own concert ministries. But only God can take 50 fingers and blend them together so that they sound like one!

As we played together, there was a yielding of our own rights. We had to listen to each other carefully so that what we were playing blended with the other four so that there was rich harmony vs. discord. There was eye contact – no words were spoken – but with eye contact and body language there was a yielding to the brother or sister or on the right or left – allowing that musician to shine on a phrase that showcased his or her style.

Starting was easy when we all played because there was one or two designated to start the piece. Ending the piece was more tricky – so there had to be constant eye contact, ears tuned in to what was going on around us – so that we all ended the piece precisely at the same time.

Throughout the concert, I kept thinking – this is a great picture of what Christ wants his church to look like and how it is to function. It can’t be all feet or all mouths, or all hands. But put it all together – everyone doing what they are supposed to do – yielding, listening, encouraging – and wow – we get to experience the answer to Jesus’ High Priestly prayer – that we would be one and one in Christ. I am thankful for the picture He gave me in the midst of our anniversary celebration. Unity is important in the church. Lord, please make us one! – Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 24-25

Think About This: Prayer is the cry of faith to the ear of mercy. Hannah Moore

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;  The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26