This devotional reflects on the many colours of a rainbow as a picture of Christian unity. Jesus calls His disciples to love one another, receive one another and guard growing fellowship from the “little foxes” of gossip, bickering, complaining and self-centredness.
The rainbow is one of the most beautiful sights in the sky. We see it when it rains or after a stormy day, and we are often awed by its beautiful colours forming one arch.
It is amazing how a rainbow appears to begin at one point and end at another. It is also amazing that many colours form it. If there were only red or blue, one colour by itself would make a plain streak; together, the colours form the beautiful rainbow.
Many Colours, One Loving Witness
This is how we who love Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, should seek to live. We should love one another and respect the different spiritual and practical gifts God has given us. We do not all have to look the same, sound the same or perform the same role. When we work together in love and move towards the same goal in Christ, our shared witness can become something beautiful.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus is clear about how His disciples should respond to one another. Just as the different colours are outstanding when seen together in the rainbow, love makes the unity of believers visible to the world.
How Do We Love One Another?
Love is more than a warm feeling. It chooses truth, patience, hope and endurance:
“does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Paul also prayed that believers would be like-minded in Christ, glorifying God “with one mind and one mouth,” and receiving one another just as Christ received them (Romans 15:5–7 NKJV). Christian unity is not uniformity; it is shared devotion to Christ expressed through patient, truthful love.
Catch the Little Foxes
To remain in one accord, we should not ignore the little habits that enter our relationships and quietly spoil what is growing.
“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”
What might the little foxes look like?
- Gossip: talking about a neighbour’s faults or calling someone strange instead of praying for them and treating them with dignity.
- Bickering: becoming upset when another Sunday school volunteer takes the lead, rather than considering what helps the children and trying to understand one another’s cultures, habits and ways of serving.
- Complaining: criticising the coffee made by a volunteer instead of recognising the time and kindness they offered.
- Self-promotion: wanting control, attention or gratification more than the good of the group and the glory of God.
These things may seem small, but repeated words and attitudes can nibble away at trust. Catching them early can mean pausing, praying, apologising, speaking directly and choosing a more loving response.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”
It is time to live as people of God’s kingdom: praying, believing and acting like love matters.
If You Are Surrounded by Complaining, Flip It
If someone comes to you complaining about another person, you can turn the conversation towards gratitude, truth and a constructive response. Flipping it does not mean pretending that every experience was wonderful or saying something untrue. It means refusing to feed needless criticism.
Complainer: “That person’s coffee tasted terrible!”
A loving reply: “It may not have been to your taste, but that person gave their time to serve us. Let’s thank them. If something genuinely needs to change, we can mention it kindly and directly.”
🕊 Remember: Phillipians 2: 14-15 (KJV) “Do ALL THINGS WITHOUT complaining that you (I) may become blameless and harmless child of God without fault.“
This makes it clear that I want to please Jesus rather than join in harmful talk. We can redirect gossip without becoming harsh ourselves, and we can “speak the truth in love” when a real concern needs to be addressed (Ephesians 4:15 NKJV).
God’s Criteria or My Selfish Criteria?
I need to set aside my personal criteria and focus on God’s criteria. That leaves less room for self-promotion, self-gratification and the need to control everything.
| God’s criteria (his voice) | My selfish criteria (intrinsic & extrinsic) |
|---|---|
| Love and receive others. | My: “Everything should be done my way.” |
| Be patient and endure with grace. | Me: “Why is the weather, service or situation not arranged for me?” |
| Give thanks and recognise the service of others. | I: “I am in control, and when I volunteer everyone must follow my preferences.” |
| Pray and keep the spiritual connection alive. | Complain, compare, demand attention or pursue self-promotion. |
God’s timing is perfect. When something does not go my way, I can surrender my expectations to Him and ask how to respond faithfully. I am not the great “I AM”; Jesus is Lord. This was a lesson I learnt at church on 13 September 2015 through Ps Josh Moncrieff.
Unity is not sameness. The rainbow is beautiful because its colours remain distinguishable while sharing one arch. In the same way, Christian unity honours different gifts while joining believers in love, truth and devotion to Christ. The “little foxes” often begin as small habits, so love catches them before they spoil what is growing.
A Prayer for Unity
Heavenly Father, thank You for the different people and gifts within the body of Christ. Teach us to love one another as Jesus loves us. Help us catch gossip, bickering, complaining, pride and self-promotion before they damage fellowship. Give us courage to speak truth with love, receive one another with grace, pray without ceasing and give thanks. May we glorify You together with one mind and one mouth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Questions About Rainbows, Unity and the Little Foxes
Does the Bible directly say that the rainbow represents church unity?
No. Genesis 9 identifies the rainbow as the sign of God’s covenant with the earth after the flood. This post uses its many colours forming one arch as a devotional comparison for believers with different gifts living in unity.
Does Christian unity mean avoiding every disagreement?
No. Love rejoices in truth. Unity calls us to address genuine problems honestly and graciously rather than spreading gossip, humiliating people or demanding our own way.
How can I “catch the little foxes” in everyday life?
Examine your words, refuse to pass on gossip, pray for the person, show gratitude, apologise when necessary and speak directly with love when a concern truly needs attention.
So, unite like the colours of the rainbow, and let the world see the love we have for one another.
Topics Covered: Christian unity, love one another, rainbow devotional, John 13:34–35, Romans 15:5–7, Song of Solomon 2:15, little foxes, gossip, complaining, church relationships, prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment