For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Gal. 5:14 (NIV)
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 1 Cor. 13:9-10 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, there are so many reasons I’m looking forward to life in the new heaven and new earth. For starters, I look forward to the Day when each of your children will enjoy a perfected understanding of your Word, the gospel, what it means to know you. No more theological one-up-man-ship, tribal separations on Sunday mornings, or online critiques of each other’s beliefs. It will be a Day of manifest humility, unbridled joy, and unparalleled love. Bring in on, Lord!
The Day when we’ll no longer know in part or love in part—the Day when we’ll never again label, dismiss, or marginalize one another, over our differing doctrines and Biblical interpretations. That we who have been saved by your grace—from beginning to end, should ever resort to condescending, judgmental, dismissive attitudes with fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus, is tragic and unacceptable. Defending the faith is one thing; dissing other believers is quite another.
Father, forgive me for those times when I choose being right over being kind. Forgive me for loving my theological tribe much more than other parts of the Body of Christ. Forgive me for defending sovereign grace ungraciously. Forgive me for thinking to myself, “I get the gospel so much more than they do.” Forgive me for using Biblical knowledge to put up walls, rather than build bridges. Forgive me and free me to love to your glory, this very day. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.
