I shared recently as I was preaching from John 17 how a Forcey member was burdened to share something with me last February when I was candidating to become pastor. After a question-and-answer time with the congregation, she approached me and expressed that she sees God using me here at Forcey like “oil and water.” Of course, usually when two things don’t mix well at all, we are known to say that they go together like “oil and water”! So, I was troubled by her word to me. She said, though, that it was a good thing, but that she did not know what it meant. Not knowing her that well, I kind of brushed it off at the time and determined not to worry about it.

Then, a few days later, I was astonished to read Psalm 133: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people dwell together in unity! It is like precious OIL poured on the head, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the DEW of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” Oil and water are precious pictures of UNITY! I believe God used this Forcey member to drive this text into my heart!

Did you know according to Exodus 30:22-24, the oil poured out on Aaron consisted of the most precious spices of Israel – myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia – blended with olive oil into a fragrant perfume!

In other words, the oil itself was a beautiful picture of unity. Each spice, though precious by itself, became even more valuable as it blended together with the others to anoint God’s chosen priest. Of course, that oil is also symbolic of the Holy Spirit, who today unites believers into one body of Christ! 

I think of how precious that oil was to God’s people, and then I think of Psalm 133 and how special it is to God’s heart when His people relate together in ways that glorify Him! I’ve been blessed to see how our Forcey family is growing in relating to each other. From praying together on Wednesday nights, to inviting each other over for meals, to including each other in our Thanksgiving celebrations, we are growing in ways that are precious to our one God and Father. And now this month we will continue as we step into the book of Ephesians and begin our series “This is Us!” Let’s keep mixing together, just like oil and water!