Christian Living

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday October 19, 2011

I want to use a few verses of scripture today to hopefully give a little hope to my fellow Christians about the beauty in a few verses that are often used with an enormous negative spin. It's true they are given as a dire warning of consequences to follow if the simple truth presented in them is ignored, yet the image within each is magnificent.

Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

"And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." 2Corinthians 6:15-16

Many of you would never believe the rants I have heard and preached on these verses.

Three words, agreed, concord and agreement bring out a picture of God's intention for each believer to live and enjoy a truly harmony filled life.

Amos is looking back to Leviticus 26:23-24 and the warning from God to walk as He walks or suffer. Amos asks the question that puzzles us but one that is observable in many areas of life that require a unified team effort. The point being that without a unified agreement as to pace, direction and reason for the walk, we will be doing something that isn't going to amount to much profit either spiritually or physically.

Agreed, concord and agreement as they are used imply a deep consensual commitment to the walk, with Amos using the Hebrew Ya'ad which in this verse carries the idea, betroth, very similar to being married, sans the ultimate intimacy. Concord is Greek sumphonesis and as you could guess has to do with our walk with God being a symphony. Agreement sugkatathesis steps right in with a somewhat military connotation, a deposition (of sentiment) in company with accord.

Dave Ramsey in EntreLeadership gives the illustration of "one Belgian draft horse being able to pull 8,000 lbs. Borrow another huge Belgian from a faraway town and the two horses can pull 20 to 24,000 lbs. If you are using two Belgians who have been trained for a period of time together the two near equal horses can pull 30 to 34,000 lbs. by pulling together."

The Lipizzaner Stallions are world famous performing horses and they are thrilling to watch. They are a "symphony" in motion. Our family has seen them several times.

Years ago when I lived in the gorgeous mountains of Southwest Virginia Joe Edmonds, one of his sons and I watched a logger pulling logs out of a mountain forest. The well matched team of Percherons put on a show appearing to move as one. An old mountain man who was also watching said something I will always remember. In his vernacular he near whispered in wonder at the sight, "Them hosses be in agreement."

When you and I are in agreement with Christ, you talk about a high stepping symphonic witness.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE