Are you shooting your arrows at the enemy, or at your brothers and sisters in the camp? The armor of God has nothing to protect our backs, as God is counting on us not to shoot arrows at each other. God calls us to minister to each other and build each other up, not tear each other down.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (Rom 14:19)
Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
(2Co 13:11)
and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (1Th 5:13-14)
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
(Heb 12:14)
God makes it pretty plain that living in peace with one another as a Christian community is critical to a healthy relationship with Him. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can have a wonderful relationship with God while having a turbulent relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm sure it was sometimes frustrating to the apostle Paul to pour himself into the minsitry of the gospel of Christ, find himself in prison, and yet hear that some of his brothers and sisters in Christ were spending their time and energy fussing with each other rather than spending it accomplishing the mission Christ gave us.
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, plead with you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3)
Amen!
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.
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