Deuteronomy 22:11 Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.

How can we break this down in the Light of the Truth in which we stand? Spiritually speaking garments are a representation of relationship. When we, who are in Christ, are received into our perfected resurrected form, we will be clothed in white. Nothing is said as to the material upon which those robes are made.

If we might go all the way back to the first covering, we see God providing animal skins to cover Adam and Eve. It is in their sons, Cain and Able, where we can first see the issues of acceptance. The sacrifice of one of the flock, wool, was acceptable. The sacrifice of the ground, cotton, was not rejected, God just did not honor Cain’s sacrifice.

Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.

This acceptance is based on works, action, obedience of the law.

Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Love God and love others is the commandment upon which all the laws and the prophets hang. Hang, like robes of righteousness.

So if love is linen, what can wool possibly represent?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

What, wait, don’t mix love and grace? I am confused.

Let me ask then this question, how well do I love? Ouch, I am not so perfect in performance. Yet my perfection is still the same in grace because it is a gift from God. My ability to show love does not nullify grace.

I am mixing love and grace if I believe that my failures in love in any way changes God’s grace towards me.

I have to keep those two separate, one in the law of my mind and the other in the condition of my heart.

Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

Paul’s letters to the churches were widely copied and distributed, not only to church members, but to whole regions. Now his letters are in the bible, passed down for centuries, among every tribe, tongue and nation. Euodias and Syntyche were being called out because of differing points of view. How embarrassing is that?

I cannot imagine my pastor standing in the pulpit saying, “Fred, Larry, you guys need to get right with the Lord.” Being of the same mind in the Lord is not indicating that either party is right or wrong, but that whatever is going on with you two needs to stop and let the Lord settle it.

I suspect that Paul had a deep insight into their relationship and without making specifics known, was trying to prevent a schism in the church. When a problem occurs between two people, sides tend to form along lines of friendship. Paul is just trying to nip this in the bud. Because he is not there, he is forced to address it in letter form.

Paul obviously has been given authority to speak truth into these lives. Here is my bigger problem here, why hasn’t anyone grown up in the Lord to take Paul’s place in these men’s lives? Paul isn’t coming back. Under house arrest his situation is not going to improve. How can a church grow if Godly men do not assume roles of leadership and pick up the mantle of leadership?

2 Kings 2:9, 14 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.