Have you ever had one of those amazing cleaning days? The kind where the whole family gets involved in the work. Folding laundry, mopping floors, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms.  Like little elves, everyone does their part. And voilá, within hours, your home is clean.

What would have taken you all day is done before lunchtime.

There is just something about unity.

Our discipleship group is currently reading through the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the King of Persia. His heart was broken when he discovers that the walls of his hometown were torn down and his city was now susceptible to enemy attack.

When he prayed, God made it clear that he was the man God had chosen to rebuild the wall. But he couldn’t do it alone. He needed favor from the king and favor from the people. God granted him both.

The people stood behind Nehemiah and were willing to do whatever it took to rebuild the wall.

Everyone got involved. Not just the construction workers or those who had a gift with tools, everyone did their part. From perfume makers, to goldsmiths, both men and women worked day and night to rebuild the wall.

And the wall was rebuilt in 52 days.

When the “enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid..because they realized this work had been done with the help of God.”

God could have miraculously built the wall himself, but He chose to use the miraculous power of unity to accomplish His work.

If that wasn’t enough, after rebuilding the wall together, the people wanted to do more together. There is a momentum found in unity.

In Nehemiah 8, we read that “all the people assembled as one man.” They asked Ezra to read God’s Word, they confessed their sins, they even worshipped together.

So, not only do homes get cleaner quicker and walls get rebuilt faster but people are drawn to the things of God when God’s people are united.

Father, I humbly ask that you would unite your people.  Where there is discord, bring understanding…for Your Kingdom and for Your Glory. Amen.

Psalm 133: 1,3 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity…For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

-Binu