The epistles penned
by the Apostle Paul contain numerous citations of God’s mandate that our
relationships be undergirded by love and peace. Love lifts and liberates;
division discomfits and destroys.
In the words of St.
Paul…
Galatians 5:14-15
For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not
consumed one of another.
Jesus Christ, the
Prince of Peace, requires effective Kingdom service. However, our
Christ connection and global witness are only authenticated in the presence of
healthy and genuine relationships. “By this,” Jesus insists, “shall
all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” (John
13:35) Therefore, any attitude that portrays apathy, indifference,
coldness, resentment or unforgiveness is typically deployed as a satanic weapon
which seeks to nullify our ability to serve God and win lost souls.
A rabbit and a mouse
learned (the hard way) that division can be a deadly phenomenon.
The rabbit dug a
hole under a tree. He said “This is my house. I shall
live in it.” And that rabbit happily began to live in his
house. One day the rabbit went to see his uncle. He lived
with his uncle for one week. There he had lots of carrots to
eat. After one week, the rabbit came back to his own house.
Upon his return, the
rabbit found a mouse living inside his house. The rabbit shouted
angrily at the mouse, “This is my house! I made it! Get
out of my house at once!”
The mouse quietly
disagreed. “No, this is my house. It was empty, and now I
live here. Go away from my house.” So the two began to
fight. Then the rabbit said, “Let us ask someone else if it is my
house or yours.”
“All right,” said
the mouse. They came to a river. Near the river they saw
a cat. She sat resting at the river, and her eyes were
closed. “I think this is a good cat,” the rabbit said. “Let us ask
her.”
“Oh no,” the mouse
said. “I am terrified of her. She will eat me
up!” The cat heard what they said. She remarked in her soft
voice, “Come my children, do not be afraid of me. I am not like
other cats. I do not eat meat. I eat only
fruit.” So the rabbit and mouse believed her and pressed their
claims.
The rabbit spoke
first. “Aunty, I dug a hole under a tree. I lived in this
hole for many days. Then I went to see my uncle for a
week. When I came back, I found this mouse inside my
house. Please tell him to leave my house immediately.”
“But it is my
house,” the mouse interjected. “The hole was empty, so I went
in. And now I live there, so the house is mine.” The
rabbit hopped up and down and shouted over and over, “NO…it is my house!”
“Oh dear,” whispered
the cagey cat. “I cannot hear what you are saying. I am
old, and my ears have gone bad. Please come a little closer and tell
me again.”
The rabbit and the
mouse thought the cat was good, so they approached ever closer to recite their
dilemma again. But as soon as they came near, that sleepy-looking
cat quickly came to life and leaped on top of them. She caught the rabbit with her teeth, and the
mouse with her claws. Then she killed them both and had a delicious dinner! Lesson learned.
“If you bite and
devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”
(Galatians 5:15)
GOD IS LOVE. Therefore, LOVE, which is the only true path
to peace, is not only our supreme commandment, it is our legacy, our lifestyle,
our source of strength, our place of safety and, indeed, OUR CREATOR. Therefore, “if it be possible, as much as
lies in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
No comments:
Post a Comment