Man Talk

Are you caught in the crossfire of a battle over words? Today, our call-out goes to Craig Rogers from Long Island, NY. Thanks for your encouragement! But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. — Galatians 5:15 This verse gives us new insight into all the issues Paul is trying to address in Galatia. The churches were engaged in a civil war. They were biting, devouring, and consuming one another with their words and opinions. Conflicts and divisions can be disheartening in our family or in the church. Once they begin, they can quickly escalate, especially if our selfish motivations take control. This is precisely why, in the preceding verses, Paul emphasized the importance of love as a motive. In addition, Paul will guide us in a new, more loving way in the following verses. But right here, we are reminded of the crushing and consuming power of words. The old adage, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," is a lie. Words do hurt. The