As believers we are all different, we all have different backgrounds and upbringings, personalities and perspectives. That isn’t a bad thing, thats a wonderful thing. But as we will see this morning, we are commanded, we are called to be united as believers. 

There is a difference in “getting along” or tolerating one another and real christian unity. Christian unity can only be achieved, can only be seen when believers embrace the common denominators that unite us. 

This is how we can be right with God and each other. It all comes back to our personal unity with the Lord Jesus Christ, a personal relationship that goes well beyond simply acknowledging that there is a God, or even that Jesus existed. A real, tangible faith.

We’ve watched the world around us the past few weeks, and it seems that everywhere you turn there is turmoil and pain. A devastating hurricane that has taken lives and obliterated homes, schools, church campuses and grocery stores.

A war in Ukraine that intensifies even today as we sit here. Our own president using worlds like Armageddon and nuclear crisis in his weekly updates and speeches.

The global economy is on the brink of something it has never seen before. Just a few days ago in London, the BOE had to step in and limit margin calls on pension funds. The decline was so rapid, so severe that if the BOE had not intervened it would have meant pension funds and other banking institutions would have become insolvent, depleted of all value in one trading session. Economic turbulence is more than likely just beginning. 

I want us to look into a very special moment in the life and history of Israel and especially King David. The King is in the last few days of his life. He is preparing for his absence on this earth. He knows his days are numbered and he is making preparations for the day that he won’t be king. 

David’s son, Solomon is to ascend to power and David’s greatest concern for his son and for his people, is that they would build the house of God. The temple where God would be glorified, where through the high priest the people could be in close communion with God. Notice what David is saying in the first few verses of this story: