Syncronous Beauty

The melody of the song, “Hail to the Chief” filled the air as I watched former President George H.W. Bush’s casket near the Capitol rotunda, where he will lay in state for a time. There are several steps at the entrance of the rotunda. How do they successfully get the casket to where it needs to go with all those stairs? Then I hear a command from an unidentified source ring out above the band’s rendition,

“AND STEP!”

Each military pallbearer was guided in each step up the staircase because they were looking straight ahead, focused on their duty. Each one relied on that command of when to take a step. Every step of every soldier was methodic and synchronous, all working together like a finely oiled machine. Each soldier had their own responsibility. Each had a part to play. Each carrying their own weight. None of the soldiers tried to outdo the other, or take another’s territory, or race to see who could take the next step first. They worked together as a unit to fulfill their duty.

“AND STEP!”

Oh, if only the bride of Christ would work together as a unit for her Bridegroom! In my book that is coming soon, Permission to Burn, I describe what true unity looks like and how it should function:

“It is true that we want unity, and this divisive, back-biting, accusing spirit is a demonic phenomenon that we must defeat. But, it will only be purged by holy fire. If we want to see the promise of awakening fulfilled in our time, we must be a generation that embraces the fire. Events are amazing, but God wants unity to reign in the body of Christ, and He wants His word to go forth with sustainability in His people. The unity Jesus speaks of in John 17 will not come in any way other than embracing the fire and glory of our amazing, fiery, holy, pure, and just God.

True Unity

His will and His Kingdom will come when we ask for it, and then we will find ourselves challenged to align with His vision. So many people think unity means everyone compromising to get along and do an event together. That is not unity. That is tolerance. That is building the tower of Babel (see Gen. 11:1–9). God the Father is the true builder of unity. Psalm 127 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” And Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of unity.

However, this can only take place as we lay down our rights to territory and our human-made blueprints, where we name and label everything as our own. It all belongs to the Bridegroom, and He longs to reign with His spotless bride—not with a broken, immature, offended, competing, cannibalizing body.”

It is critical in this hour to keep a check on the motivation of our hearts and ask:

1. Why am I doing what I am doing?
2. Am I disowning my life, and sharing the cross with Jesus? (Mark 8:34 TPT).
3. Am I truly helping my fellow soldiers in Christ fulfill their duties well in action and words?

Psalm 15 TPT

Living in the Shining Place
A poetic song, by King David
  Lord, who dares to dwell with you?
   Who presumes the privilege of being close to you,
   living next to you in your shining place of glory?
   Who are those who daily dwell in the life of the Holy Spirit?
 They are passionate and wholehearted,
   always sincere and always speaking the truth—
   for their hearts are trustworthy.
 They refuse to slander or insult others;
   they’ll never listen to gossip or rumors,
   nor would they ever harm another with their words.
 They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers
   while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth.
 They make firm commitments and follow through,
   even at great cost.
 They never crush others with exploitation or abuse
   and they would never be bought with a bribe
   against the innocent.
   They will never be shaken; they will stand firm forever.

Selah

Tammie Southerland