Today I Choose to Live in Harmony...

Today I choose to live in harmony. To love, appreciate and embrace the differences between myself and others around me.
As believers we are called to live in harmony with one another. Psalm 133:1 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity." Living in harmony goes way beyond just appearances. We can't just act like we like someone, we have to genuinely change our attitude. We are all created different and that is what makes us all unique. It would be boring to live in a world where everyone was the same. Often it is our differences that can get in the way of us living in harmony. We aren't called to be best friends with everyone, but we are called to love and live in unity with everyone.
It's probably easy to think of someone who rubs you the wrong way, someone who pushes your buttons and can drive you crazy. If we allow those small annoyances to fester, we begin to break apart the unity that God has called us to. And sometimes it can even be the similarities in us that can cause tension.
Some would say that I can be stubborn, maybe even strong willed and I come from a family of strong willed people! I can also be competitive and that trait doesn't always come out in the most loving way! Being strong willed can be an benefit, but it can start to become detrimental when my stubbornness causes conflict. Quarreling is a barrier to harmony and we have to work towards harmony amidst conflict. We find unity and harmony when we start to look out for the interest of others, not just for our own interests.
It can be hard to admit that we are wrong, that we are the one with a bad attitude or that we are the one who hasn't been very kind. But we must humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness, because a lack of unity within a church body can be detrimental not only to those who are at odds, but to the rest of the body as well. Galatians 5:14-15 tell us, "The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." We have to love, not break apart and devour.
We are called to live out Paul's words in Ephesians 4:1-6. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit - just as you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." We have to love! We have to be patient, we have to be humble and we have to realize that if there is someone who has bothered us, there's a good chance that we may have done something that has bothered someone else. When we all recognize that we need God's strength, we can start to see others with love.
1 Peter 3:8-12 is another great challenge to us for how we should live our lives. "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.'" We have to love, not allowing our minds, thoughts and words to slander others or bring people down. Our actions, thoughts and words should reflect the humble, patient, loving, forgiving character of Christ.
So, today I choose to live in harmony, to be thankful that we are all created differently in God's image!