Can't we all just get along?

Can't we all just get a long?
by Heather Collver

Acts 7:26
Then on the next day he suddenly appeared to some who were quarreling and fighting among themselves, and he urged them to make peace and become reconciled, saying, Men, you are brethren; why do you abuse and wrong one another?

It is a common thought that passes through my head. "Why can't we all just get along?" More during the hours my children are all home or when we are in a vehicle together. It is amazing to witness the love between siblings. One minute they have each other's backs, the next they are pulling out the knife. It's a love/hate thing that drives me crazy. So when I think about God's response to all his children fighting and quarreling, I figure that he must be pretty hurt that his own creation wouldn't be willing to forgive one another as he has forgiven us. It doesn't just happen in the secular world. I have to admit that I have seen my share of quarreling among Christians. No one is immune to it. But God's Word clearly tells us that we must stop, we must make peace and become reconciled.

Is there someone in your life that you have recently quarreled with? Is there something bothering you and you have gone over the hurtful words you want to say over and over, but something is keeping you from unleashing them? Have you allowed a difference in opinion become a personal hurt in your life? All of these things stir up strife. It causes a break down in relationships and often results in a quarrel.

Ephesians 4:31- Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).

Dear Lord, let our words, thoughts and actions be consistent with the character of Christ whom we so desperately want to be like. Help us to reflect your goodness and be quick to forgive others, help us to let stuff slide off our backs. We love you, Lord.

Please pray for those who hate. Those who seek out crimes against those who are different from them. There were over 7,600 incidents of hate crimes in 2007. go to http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2007/table_01.htm for more information. Don't forget to pray.