“The whole law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another” (Gal. 5:14-15). “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal.5:6).
Lord Jesus, what a contrast is presented in these two passages—opinions being expressed in devouring, and faith being expressed in love. Your beloved Bride are capable of both. As I meditate and pray this morning, there are over 22,000 different denominations in the world—not forms of currency, but networks of churches, each confessing allegiance to you. But denominations aren’t the culprit. For cherishing and consuming one another happen wherever “two or more” of your followers are gathered—including in marriage.
Theological, cultural, and personal differences will remain until we are glorified. Only then will we no longer “know in part” (1Cor.13:9-10). But our “loving in part” has become too tolerated, normalized, and justified. Conflicts are inevitable, but “redemptive conflicting” is not inevitable. It’s a choice, requiring the riches of grace and the power of your Spirit. Forgive us and free us, Jesus.
You pray for our unity—not our uniformity (Jn.17:10-11). And you have already given us union with yourself (Col.3:3; 1Cor.6:17), and “the unity of the Spirit” (Eph.4:3). It’s why we eagerly groan for the Day when it will be impossible for us to sin again—in thought, word, or deed. We will see you as you are and we will be made like you (1Jn.3:1-3)—your entire every-nation, every-generation Bride.
Never again will we “diss,” dishonor, demean, or distrust one another. Never again will we experience “us-versus-them-ness.” Never again will we weaponize our differences to empower ourselves. Never again will we “bite and devour” those you love and cherish. Hasten the Day, Jesus. So Very Amen.