I urge you, then - I who am a prisoner because I serve the LORD: live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you. Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, there is one God and Father of all mankind, who is LORD of all, works through all, and is in all.

Each of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given.

Ephesians 4:1-7

You should cringe when you hear about church fights. They are dirty. Ministers lose their jobs. Supposed Christians treat each other as enemies. And some of those fights can be over the color or carpet or drapes, whether the choir should wear robes and what color. They even fight over the thermostat setting, and how long the sermon should be. Christians have cut off friendships. Churches have split because people argued about such unimportant things. When this happens, one thing is for certain - people have lost sight of what a church is for.

The church is the place we go for worship, for reading the Word, for singing to God's glory, for serving others, and for helping one another to grow. The church is a place of love, forgiveness, and encouragement.

Let's make sure our churches are safe havens from squabbles by remembering what a church is for.

Christians at war with each other

cannot be at peace with their Heavenly Father.

Our Daily Bread - October 19, 2003