Attending a symphony is a beautiful experience. With a variety of instruments, stirring compositions, and eloquent melodies, we walk away feeling like we have experienced a work of art.
While we sit and enjoy the music, so much more is happening than we may realize. The concert is a result of hours of practice by the musicians, together and apart. Once on stage, they do their part to put together a musical masterpiece—directed by a skilled conductor. They are in unity, playing the same style, with the same tempo, and in the same key. Though all the many instruments may sound and look different, they are in unity to make one harmonious sound.
This is also what God desires of the Body of Christ:
“Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19, AMPC).
Although this Scripture specifically addresses the unity of prayer among believers, it also applies to every aspect of the Body of Christ. Every member of the Body is unique, valuable, and necessary (Corinthians 12:18-25, NKJV). As we follow our “conductor,” the Holy Spirit, we produce a supernatural harmony. As a result, God’s peace flows, and we express His nature in our daily lives. Unified for one purpose, we advance His Kingdom.
Disharmony
Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. When we do not follow the Holy Spirit’s lead, there is no unified harmony. As we withdraw our unique contribution and choose to go solo, there is only disharmony.
Imagine if the trumpets in a symphony decided to play jazz, while the rest played classical. What if the string section changed the time signature from common time to a 6/8-time signature right in the middle of the song? We would be horrified because the once beautiful music had turned into chaos.
This is the result of disunity. When any organization, workforce, or family is at odds with each other, there is mayhem that no one can follow. Like Jesus said, they will eventually fail: “Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, ‘Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart’ ” (Matthew 12:25, NLT).
However, when people are united, there is peace and productivity: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). If we want “good and pleasant,” we must choose a lifestyle of unity, in our personal lives and in the Body of Christ. And if we want to see God’s Kingdom thrive through us, harmony must be our goal.
Our Prefect Example
Our perfect example of unity is Jesus and His Father: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:20-23, NKJV).
Jesus only did what He saw the Father do and only said what the Father told Him to say (John 12:49-50, John 5:19). When Jesus walked the earth, He and the Father consistently worked together in unity toward one goal—the salvation of the world.
As the Body of Christ, we may not always feel like submitting ourselves to the authority of the Holy Spirit and the leaders He has ordained. We may think our method is best. We may even be more gifted and qualified than others. But here, too, Jesus set the perfect example. In the Garden of Gethsemane, in His agony, He requested that God change the plan. He knew how excruciating the strategy was going to be—spirit, soul, and body. But though Jesus didn’t feel like staying in harmony with God’s plan, He chose to anyway—for our sakes.
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:41-42, NKJV).
Selfless Harmony
Staying in harmony in the Body of Christ is a selfless act of love. It is laying down its preference and saying, “not my will, but Yours, be done,” so we can glorify Jesus through our lives.
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32, NKJV).
Unity lifts Jesus for all to see, drawing people to Him. This is our assignment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). If we, as the Body of Christ, want to fulfill our assignment in God’s “symphony,” we must choose to be different than the world’s culture of disharmony. We must choose to follow heaven’s conductor, the Holy Spirit, and participate in His beautiful harmony. This is what love does.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35, NKJV).
Christa Madrid 