And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:14, ESV
As the Beatles once sang, “All you need is love.” Conflict is a part of the fallen human condition, but our hearts desire an end to all conflict. Yet, conflict still goes on. We often equate the lack of conflict with uniformity. and the lack of disagreement. When our Lord calls for us to stand in harmony, He desires for us to stand together, centered in Him, and focused upon doing that which will bring more to know Him. The love of Christ is not centered in uniformity but in unanimity. We are meant to stand unified in Christ and united in the reality that we are all in need of our Lord’s forgiveness because of the sin within us, unlike worldly love, which is often diminished to only the erotic or centered in never addressing difficult issues, or that may seek out correction of sin. God’s love is not centered in an “I’m OK, you’re OK” mentality, but the reality, the only thing that makes us OK is the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.