I appeal to you, dear
brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live
in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church.
Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose (1 Corinthians 1:10, NLT).
Living love when we disagree sounds good on paper, but it isn’t easy. We’re different--we have different personalities, preferences, and perspectives. And we can struggle to get along, especially when we don’t see eye-to-eye. In the course of a day, we can find ourselves disagreeing or debating with family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers on social media about everything from food choices and parenting styles to politics and religion. Often we find ourselves divided--even as Christians. How can we work out our differences with humility and grace, always showing the love of Christ, while still remaining true to what we believe?
So who has been irritating you the most lately? Keep that person in the back of your mind and we’ll come back to them in a minute.
Paul urged the church in Corinth to “be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10). He essentially called them to live love – even when they disagreed. Chapter 13, known as the love chapter, wasn’t included to be a nice poem for weddings. Instead, it was written to urge Christians living in a pagan and diverse culture to approach one another with the love of Christ. God’s Word calls us to do the same.
Regrettably, we often exercise the opposite of that kind of love,
choosing instead to keep a record of wrongs or make rude
comments--whether in person or on social media. Jesus prayed that we
would experience unity as his body. “I am praying not only for these
disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their
message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as
you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that
the world will believe you sent me” (John 17:20-21).
In His prayer, Jesus asked that His followers would be as united as He
and the Father are! We can never demonstrate this supernatural love and
kindness with those who disagree with us apart from Jesus. Paul
acknowledged this truth, mentioning the name of Jesus eight times in the
first nine verses of his letter! He knew that we desperately need
Christ at the center of our personal lives, including our interactions
with others. Our unity comes only through Christ and His love.
Here are some of the main questions the concept of living love has brought up for me:How can we?
- Deal with our differences in a loving way without compromising our convictions
- Achieve harmony while maintaining our diversity
- Consider the ways that the surrounding culture impacts our beliefs
- Agree to disagree on matters of preference and opinion
- Humbly listen to others with views different than our own
- Embrace ambiguity in some areas, acknowledging that our view is often partial and incomplete
- Demonstrate to all that love is the greatest thing and that love never fails.
Now let’s bring it a little closer to home. So who was that person that
came to your mind when I asked who has been irritating you lately?
Think about that person right now. How is God calling you to live His
love toward them today? We can’t do it without Jesus at the center of
our lives can we? Know that I am praying that every person who reads
this post would have supernatural power to live love in their midst of
their disagreements!
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, help us to live Your love. Even though we disagree about
many things, we find unity in You. Give us eyes to see others the way
You see them. Season our words with Your grace so that even when we land
on opposite sides of an issue, we can still value each other and bring
honor to Your Name.
In Jesus’ Name,Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Think again about the person who has been irritating you the most
lately. Ask God to give you one tangible way that you can bless that
individual today. Perhaps you can give them a word of encouragement, an
anonymous gift card, or a secret act of service. As you live love toward
them in a practical way, I’d love to hear in the comments how God used
your choice to minister to your soul.
Today's Bible Verse...
Even when I am old and gray, do
not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
In
the beautiful hymn entitled, "O Sacred Head," the final verse ends with
this plea: "Lord, let me never, never, outlive my love to thee." To this
sentiment we want to add one other: "Lord, let me never, never, die
until the next generation knoweth thee!"
My Prayer...
Lord God Almighty, the great I AM, help me and those in my
generation to pass on an appreciation of your power and glory to those
who come after us. Bless your Church's future with many more continuous
generations of faith after me or until that day you send your Son to
bring your people home. In the name of my coming Lord, Jesus Christ, I
pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
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