And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Philippians 3:15

I love the way Paul leaves it up to God to make things clear to others, when so often we take this role upon ourselves.

The fact is people do think differently. We grow up in a variety of circumstances, with diverse experiences which influence our perceptions. Sometimes it’s a matter of emphasis or a minor disagreement over something unimportant. These things don’t have to cause conflict if we leave it up to God to make things clear.

Only a few verses later Paul is pleading with Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. We aren’t told what they argued about, it wasn’t important. We will have differences but they need not divide us. Throughout the letters in the New Testament, we find many exhortations to love one another and to live in harmony. We can only do this if we put aside our need to be right and not take it upon ourselves to correct others who are simply expressing an opinion which differs from ours.

There are other places where Paul does bring correction, rebuke and instruction. There is a time to do this when the truth of the gospel is compromised. Yet too often we are quick to jump in and correct when given time and nurture God will make the issue clear to all concerned.

When we trust God, we don’t need to take upon ourselves the role of policeman over the non-essentials of our faith, remembering also that God desires to make things clear to us too.