“We can get through this thing all right. We’ve got to stick together, though. We’ve got to have faith in each other.”
—George Bailey
Believers are never alone; God is always with us. This is a great blessing and a genuine promise from the Lord. In Christ, we are carriers of God’s beautiful and glorious presence. Miraculously, we have the fire of Almighty God releasing his love within us. It is a powerful image of God at work redeeming our souls, as well as his purpose through us to touch and redeem the souls of others.
God’s sons and daughter are very powerful when we link God’s magnificent presence and our personal lives together for his purpose. And, as we are sent to defeat the enemy by making more disciples, we are definitely better when we move together, as ONE, by Spirit-driven faith and love. We were created to become a whole in the love of God. Friends, we share in this race of faith and we are better together.
In our lesson from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” today, George points to this truth as he addresses a fearful people about the reality of money. By the greedy and destructive actions of Mr. Potter [bank owner], people rush to withdraw their money from the Bailey Building and Loan Company because they fear losing their money in the midst of a bank run which could bring foreclosure to George’s family business. George reminds his clients there is no money sitting in a safe.
As customers of Bailey Building and Loan, these folks have chosen and agreed to share the use of their money to help others in the community be able to afford a small modest home. George reminds them, “Your money’s in Joe’s house…right next to yours. And in the Kennedy house, and Mrs. Macklin’s house, and a hundred others…Now, what are you going to do? Foreclose on your neighbors to get what belongs to you?” George points to the commitment they made to one another and the strength they will find as they stick together to defeat evil.
We overcome evil through good, so the key to survival is trusting in God and every believer’s commitment to love. This world is driven by selfishness and lawlessness, but God is not up in heaven wringing his holy hands. No, he is still on the throne and he is wanting to work through each one of us to manifest his righteous kingdom here on earth. Believers are givers not takers. Believers are committed not indifferent. We remain connected by Truth in faith and love…and the world notices the peace and unity of our supernatural Lord.
OT Reading: Psalm 133:1 NIV David writes,“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
NT Reading: Ephesians 4:16 NLT Paul writes to the Body of believers,“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power of your commitment to us. May we turn to be committed disciples to you as we work together in unity. Help us choose to live in peace, no matter how hard the devil tries to divide us. Bring a desire to make peace and fight for the whole when conflict rises; rather than retreat or live in selfishness. Like David, may we run with confidence toward the giants that stand before us and take them down in the name of the Lord. Amen.