Live In Harmony!

February 18, 2026

Live In Harmony!

I wonder what impact it would have on our world if every Christ-follower would devote the 40 days of Lent (starting today on Ash Wednesday) to living in harmony. 

I am not talking about just getting along with other people.  Instead, I am talking about living in the kind of harmony where there is no room for pride or arrogance and there is no room for ignoring those of low status or low income.  There is only room for a humble heart, a gentle spirit, and a Christ-like love in our relationships with and attitudes toward other people.

Imagine how our world would be changed if each of us seriously devoted a significant amount of our time, our energy, and our prayers to living in harmony during the 40 days of Lent. 

The Apostle Paul called the Christ-followers in first century Rome to live in this kind of harmony.  In Romans 12:16 Paul writes; “Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.”

Later in the same letter, the Apostle Paul raises the call again.  In Romans 15:5 Paul writes; “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus…”  Our example for living in harmony is Jesus.  As we live in harmony, the Lord God will continue to give us His steadfast love, encouragement, and opportunity.

Imagine how our world would be changed if each of us seriously devoted a significant amount of our time, our energy, and our prayers to living in harmony during the 40 days of Lent. 

The primary challenge to living in harmony is often pride.  Paul calls pride by the name arrogance.  In the book of Proverbs, we hear warnings about the power of pride to destroy relationships, destroy families, and destroy nations. 

In Proverbs 16:18 we hear; “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

In Proverbs 11:2 we hear; “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but wisdom is with the humble.”

In Proverbs 29:23 we hear; “A person’s pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.”

Pride will lead to destruction, disgrace, and humiliation.  Pride will lead us to a failure, a fall, and a lost faith in the Lord.  In contrast, a humble heart will lead us to wisdom and honor and the kind of relationships in which Jesus wants us to be involved.

Imagine how our world would be changed if each of us seriously devoted a significant amount of our time, our energy, and our prayers to living in harmony during the 40 days of Lent. 

Could you make a commitment to living with less pride/arrogance for 40 days?  Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to wash away the pride in your heart.  Take a moment to ask Jesus to give you the strength and the courage to name the places of pride in your heart and then let go of that pride.  Take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to replace the pride in you with a humble heart, a gentle spirit, and a peace-full soul.

Our world needs to be transformed.  That change will happen as each person dedicates themselves to living in harmony.  The journey begins by first addressing the pride in our own hearts. 

When we live with a humble heart that honors God and other people, our life will be filled with delight in the Lord, hope for the future, and a faith that will sustain us through all of life.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug