Biting and devouring

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! – Galatians 5.15

This whole legalising thing had the potential to destroy the church in Galatia. Paul knew he needed to get this sorted before it ripped the church apart.

The previous passage talked about loving each other. Here is just the opposite. Paul speaks of the incredible damage of fighting amongst ourselves.

Why does it seem at times that we just can’t really get along with each other?

It’s that rottten old flesh that still draws. It is pride and arrogance and demanding our own way. It is always have in to be right.

Love is the key. It is the only way to battle the biting and devouring flesh that will see us consuming each other. We both many think we are winning – but no one wins in the sceanario. It is like the photo I saw recenlty of two snakes baiting each other’s tails.

We live in a day of ugliness. Ugly actions and ugly speech are all around us. Sadly we can let that same ugliness creep into the church. If we forget that charge to love we all lose – it’s that simple.