Biting and Devouring

Galatians 5:14-15
The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

This verse piggy-backs yesterday’s thought – looking out for each other, building unity, and living in harmony. We are to love each other, just as Christ has loved us.
Yet, “biting and devouring” is often a great way to describe what goes on within the church walls, isn’t it? We all know that this isn’t what God desires, but let’s take a look at what it accomplishes. I believe it is one of the enemy’s greatest tactics to divide the Church, getting us to fight with each other and bringing each other down, for a couple of reasons.
First, it goes back to the simple concept of divide and conquer. When we are separated and focused on fighting each other, we do not work together and fight as a team. It’s easier for the enemy to attack us in our weakened state. We begin to see each other as the enemy, tearing down our fellow brothers and sisters in a futile effort to build ourselves up. Eventually, we will destroy ourselves and everyone around us in the process.
The second thing I believe this accomplishes is pushing those in the world away from our churches. Why would they want to be a part of something that is really no different than that which they already have? They can get gossip, backstabbing, and in-fighting in their workplace, other organizations, and even their homes.
However, when we are working together, supporting each other, helping each other to heal and grow, the world will see that we have something they deeply desire. They will want to be a part of it, even at-first simply to be loved and accepted as they are. We will be able to fight for each other, and band together to fight the enemy – if two is better than one, imagine the effect of 2 million!
Let’s work together, support each other, and love each other, just as we discussed yesterday. Let’s band together to build a healthy Body, drawing those who are not yet a part of us into our loving Arms, helping them to recognize their need for the love and life found in Christ.