“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!  It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.  It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.”
Psalm 133:1

Remember the television show M*A*S*H?  It was based on an American emergency medical unit in the Korean War.  This group of people was composed of some very different personalities.  There was Hawkeye Pierce, B.J., and Father Mulcahy.  There was Colonel Potter, Radar, and Hotlips Houlihan.  They were always playing jokes on one another and arguing over different political views and the war.  But there was always one thing that brought these characters together.  It did not matter what particular argument was going on or what particular practical joke was being pulled, when they heard the sound of the choppers bringing in wounded, they always were united in the O.R.

In our day of hurting and wounded people, we cannot afford to be one more church that spends all of its time arguing over things that will not matter in the light of eternity.  We must bring our differences together and allow the Lord to merge them in unity of the Spirit.

Just as Aaron, the high priest, was anointed on his head and the oil ran down his body, so the Holy Spirit descends from our great High Priest, Jesus Christ.  Anointing always brings harmony.

Prayer Focus: Pray that, throughout the fulfilling of the vision God has given Impact, we will experience genuine harmony resulting from the Holy Spirit’s presence among us.  Ask God to show you specific ways you can contribute toward the unity of believers at Impact.  Do you know anyone who adds to the disharmony of the church?  How is God guiding you to respond to that division?  Are you divided?  Many times people just need their questions answered.  Ask God to help you lead a unified cause to see more lives changed… starting with your own!

“In the Lord I take refuge.  How then can you say to me: ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain.’”
Psalm 11:1

In the 1984 Olympic Games hosted by Los Angeles, there was a memorable event in the women’s 3000 meter race.  Two premier long distance runners were entered: Zola Budd, a South African running for Great Britain, and Mary Decker from the U.S.A.  During the race, the two bumped.  Budd landed awkwardly and was cut deeply by Decker’s spikes, but was able to continue.  She finished a disappointing seventh.  Mary Decker suffered a pulled left hip stabilizer muscle.  Her injury put her out of the race.

In a spiritual sense, there are many Mary Deckers today.  Wounded, they have quit running the race.  Among the many images of life found in Scripture, there is the image of the runner and the image of battle.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we begin with a birth, but we discover quickly this journey we are on is more like a battle.  It is very difficult to persevere in a battle.  In 1 Kings, chapter 22, the Bible records the time when King Ahab of Israel joined with Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, to battle against Syria.  In the midst of the chaos, Ahab is struck by an arrow.  He groans to the driver of his chariot, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting.  I’ve been wounded” (verse 34).

There are many like Ahab (and Decker) who have been wounded in the battle for souls and have forgotten their place.  The Scriptures are full of these warnings and admonitions.  Galatians 5:7 says, “You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”  A disturbing part of our culture today is an aversion to any kind of commitment.  Our society is short on longevity and long on short-term, quick, instant “what have you done for me lately” attitudes.  God teaches us differently through His Word.  We are to persevere – no matter what the battle brings us. 

Prayer Focus: Pray Impact will persevere with what the Lord has entrusted to us (the “X”).  Ask the Lord whom you can encourage to persevere today.  Proverbs 11:25 says, “…he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”  Claim this promise as you act on it.  Go ahead – make the call, write the note, send the email OR do whatever it takes to encourage the wandering.  And if you are the one about to drop out of the battle – for goodness sake… tell someone now so you can be encouraged to persevere yourself.