I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the Gospel. Philippians 4:3

The world is full of wonderful differences. Variety fills God's creation. He has gifted His children, too, with unique personal identities and perspectives. Differences are good.

Yet sometimes the differences develop into barriers. Sometimes people are unwilling to celebrate the differences and instead let them grow into hard feelings or hurt feelings, into resentment or quarrels.

Apparently this is what happened between two of Paul's fellow workers in spreading the Gospel in the city of Philippi: Euodia and Syntyche. Sadly, it still happens among Christians today when people disagree.

The heavenly Father speaks to us through Paul as He did to the Philippians of that day. We dare not be a part of the problem. There is no room for taking sides or laying blame, no room for accusation or deceitful gossip. We must be a part of the solution by helping one another work out differences that rob us of closeness and unity. We dare not write others off as bickering troublemakers. We are partners together in sharing the Good News that God loves and forgives us in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, heal our differences so we may, in partnership, share the Good News. Amen.

(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 4-6    2 Corinthians 1

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