STRENGTH IN UNITY

         I enjoy attending Christian weddings. It is a true joy to see a man and woman I know to be believers in Christ speak their marital vows to each other while giving honor to the Lord and blessing those attending with appropriately chosen hymns and scripture texts. It's even more joyful when I have been involved in the training of one or both of the persons being wed when they were younger.
         The two Christians we witnessed married this past Saturday asked their pastor to speak on the familiar Bible text from Ecclesiastes 3 about the cord of three strands not being easily broken. In his message the pastor stated something I did not know. He said the three strands are not stronger because of their number but because of their unity.
         For example, one would think that putting two single strands together into one would make them capable of pulling twice the load of just one strand. However, their unity adds strength, so a cord of two strands can actually pull three times the load of just one strand. Then, if you add a third strand to the two, the cord is now capable of pulling twelve times the load of just one strand.
         The reason is unity in Christ. When the three strands are woven together, strength of their being together adds fourfold to their capability. So now God's Word says, "Two are better than one," (Ecclesiastes 4:9ff) for they now can carry three times the load. And, "A cord of three strands is not easily broken," because that cord now can hold twelve times the burden as can just one.
         This is especially true of two Christians. When we bring Jesus Christ into our life in faith and trust, whether into our marriage, our home, or in any part of our life where we have a burden, we can withstand far more with Him with us than if we are alone. Jesus adds His strength and power to help us in our daily burdens, no matter how heavy our burdens may be.
         At the close of the pastor's message, the couple braided their three strands into one cord, one strand for each of them plus one for Jesus. They now have a reminder of how God will give them strength in unity during their life together.

What burden do you have that Jesus can help carry?

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com