Loving God of comfort and peace, share those rich gifts with this dear reader for You alone know what they need. In Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
We find this in the book of Acts, "The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. Paul took Silas." (Acts 15:39) The entire 15th chapter of Acts deals with "so small disenssion" among believers; and hard as it may seem to the outside world, churches, better said, members sometimes have disagreements among themselves. So, is it strange to imagine that a program would emerge to help in those times? "Even if you disagree, please don't make me wrong." This is the second of the HEART principles. If we truly love one another, as Jesus commanded us to, even if we disagree, we cannot dismiss the other person or label them "wrong." It takes a lot of love as many of us have discovered in close relationships, but it can be done. If we truly "hear and understand," then we will be more likely to hear the points behind the other person's opposing view.
To be a disciple is to be called to live a life different from the world's view. Ours should be the way of love, the way of fullness of life, the way that leads to eternal life. Jesus said this way would be a "narrow way" and not all would walk it. Even in our churches there may be those who are not yet on that path, but we cannot shove them off. We must love them back on to the way we know to be Christ's.
PRAYER: Loving God, show me today how to better follow You. Help me to listen and understand others and how to disagree in a loving way. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
