Bind Us Together...all of us

There is only one God
There is only one King.
There is only one body
That is why we sing, 

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together,
Bind us together with love.

- Bind Us Together,  Bob Gillman, 1977

My song closes its traditional service with this song almost every week. It 's a great message. The Bible is very clear that followers of the Messiah Jesus as to love one another, and that it is his will for us to be brought to complete unity. (E.g., John 17:23)

I first learned the song while on a youth mission tour through Florida in 1984. We had a group of around 20 who were touring the Florida panhandle, presenting a musical program and gospel message at churches each night. Each time we would meet for prayer, we would sing this song. Because we were convinced that our love for each other was a key to our message.

But there was something different about this song when I heard it this last Sunday morning. For you see, most of my life I've sung it with a group of people who were almost all just like me. Culture, nationality, race...very homogeneous. Frankly, people that could be relatively easily to "bind together." We have a lot in common. 

Jesus said this: "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?" (Matthew 5:46-47) No, the true test of unity is when we go outside our comfort zone.

That's why it was so cool listening the the members of Frazer's International Bible Class sing. Watch the clip - it's worth the time:

Wow! As I listened to them, I thought, yes! Lord, bind us together with these brothers and sisters. And with others all over the world. And with the ones in Ethiopia that I will be seeing in a little over a week.

Bind us together...so that the world will know that Jesus is King.