If math could be to determine or even predict difficulties within relationships, the odds of liking anyone might be pretty slim. Perhaps we might be able to tolerate others. But having a true and stirring and lasting relationship? That might take a miracle.
Just look at the numbers. There are around 8 billion people on the planet. What is the possibility of others being enough like you that you like them?
And yet, many people have what appears to be nearly 8 billion friends on Facebook.
The only explanation is that God so designed cultures and people groups within cultures to get along. That’s more mysterious than spinning the galaxies into place, plotting out amoebas or creating the animal kingdom.
The older I get, the more I realize that worldly-versus-Christian relationships are often built around things or activities or families. Someone works together so they figure out how to get along for the sake of a project or they might even grow to like each other. Homeowners in neighborhoods get together for a holiday party or a humongous spring yard sale. Siblings-as-kids go from fighting to developing meaningful ties as they get older.
But only God can knit souls together in the same manner that Jesus shared with His Father.
Christians are commanded to love one another. But isn’t it other-worldly when we advance from a command to a burning desire to actually prefer each other without God bending our arms behind our backs?
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: When a difficulty grows into an opportunity to love, the world may well understand the most basic principle of theology as expressed by second and third-century church father Tertullian: “See how these Christians love one another.”
[Jesus said] I and the Father are one…[Jesus said] A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 10:30 NIV, John 13:34 NIV. Editor’s brackets