from the Preacher’s PC…

The German philosopher Schopenhauer compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter’s night. He said, “The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills. And in the lonely night of earth’s winter eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness.”

As humans we have been created with the need for companionship. I am always fascinated how Adam, when He enjoyed sinless fellowship with His Creator, still had a desire for one of his own kind (Gen. 2:20). God has created institutions such as marriage and family and church to meet these needs for human intimacy and belonging. Jesus was well aware of our need for intimate human companionship, and He was also well aware of the challenges and “sharp quills” we face in the process. So in His final prayer to the Father our Lord declared, “Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me” (Jn. 17:20-21). Just hours before He would be suspended on the cross, Jesus prayed for the unity of His church. Second only to the concern for His glory was this longing that His disciples would be united.

It is important that as we dwell together as friends and brethren that we treat others as we would want to be treated (Mt. 7:12), that we have the proper love one for another (1 Jn. 3:16-18), that we treat each other with kindness, compassion, and meekness (Col. 3:12), and that we be encouragers (1 The. 5:11; Heb. 3:13).

Friends, be careful of your quills.

Think About It!

Have A Great Day!

Tom Moore
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com