SETTLE YOUR DISAGREEMENTS IN LOVE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
Philippians 4:2-3 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Division in the Church? I know it sounds impossible that in the early Church some people had disagreements. But it appears that human nature showed up even in the early days of the formation of the Church.
Paul writes asking two women to settle their disagreement. Evidently it was a big enough issue that Paul was aware of the problem. Paul recognizes they were believers who had been hard workers in the spread of the gospel. They were not full of sin and rebellion against God--they just had a disagreement.
Imagine when the congregation got together to have Paul’s letter read to them and they get to this part of the letter. There must have been a real shock for these two ladies to hear their names called out in front of the entire church body.
I think one observation is that the Word of God is not just good theology for our intellect, it is transformational for our lives. God is not interested in simply filling our minds with information but instead He wants to transform our behavior. The Word of God is practical.
It is amazing that even born-again, Spirit-filled believers don't always think the same. There are differences of opinion on a variety of things--including how to interpret and apply certain passages of Scripture. But what if we were to decide to settle our disagreements in a Biblical fashion? What if we decided it is okay to disagree but not allow anger, bitterness, revenge, or other negative emotions to get involved in our disagreement?
Let's show the world the love of Christ lives in us by the way we handle our disagreements. Let's be people of humility, respect, and love.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit I need Your help in relating to those who disagree with me. Help me to be humble and loving. Help me to be open to other viewpoints and listen. Help me to respond in love even when I disagree. Help me not to allow a disagreement to become a division.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”