What divides us? Some days I wonder if the question is, what doesn’t divide us? I’m wondering what happened to how we are thinking people, conversing with one another – oh sure, agreeing to disagree on some issues – but without the anger and vitriol that seems to permeate conversations these days.
What happened to being curious together rather than suspecting anyone who sees an issue differently from us; seeking to solve problems together rather than attacking each other; helping each other instead of competing with one another? Where has a sense of community and the common good and sticking together through hard times gone?
Jesus spoke about the impact of this kind of civil war in a community or a society when he said:
Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. Matthew 12:25
Well Lord, on every side we see signs of things falling apart. We want to do things differently. Help us Lord to find a new way forward, where we respect and learn from one another, give each other freedom to walk a path different from the one we are on, and somehow still keep the way open for communication and an opportunity to share the gospel in a fruitful way?
Jesus, You gave us the way forward and it’s not an easy way but in Your strength, and under the Holy Spirit’s guidance we can live that way today. What seems impossible with us is possible with You.
We are instructed: They must seek peace and pursue it. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 1 Peter 3:11, Romans 12:18
Lord help us to pray, help us to do all that is in our power today to live with compassion and respect, speak the truth in love and be those people who build community rather than walls.
Give us wise and discerning hearts as we reach across the angry divides in our families and our communities and help us to be those who contribute to the peace of Christ in our own hearts and in the hearts and minds of all with whom we work and relate.
With this writer in the Bible we pray for each other:
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
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