Jess tells us that God’s people should be the best at handling conflict on the planet. Hmm... that has not been my experience or the experience of many others whom I know in ministry. We are pretty good at causing a lot of conflict but don’t ask us to confront it. This is an area the enemy uses against us big time. Unresolved conflict is like a weight around our necks.
Rumors, gossip, assigning blame, complaining, talking negatively, holding grudges are still alive and well in the body of Christ. One of the issues I deal with the most in ministry is reluctance or total unwillingness to deal with conflict. I understand reluctance but outright disobedience to the Word of God is inexcusable for us.
If the Word tells me that being a peacemaker is what distinguishes me as a child of God then it must be pretty important.
Ehpesians 6:13:17 says, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
We are to be ready to bring peace. Peace between God and man and among one another. The knowledge that we are at peace with God and one another is a weapon against our enemy. Peace is powerful but unresolved conflict is the devil’s playground.
As disciples we are brothers and sisters in Christ – children of God. We are to live at peace with one another and to take that peace to our culture. If we’re at odds with one another, speaking evil of one another then what kind of change agent will we be to the world. How do we take peace to others when we don’t have peace in the family?
I love the being “child of God.” If I want the privilege of being God’s child I must take on the responsibility of being a peacemaker. Whatever God asks us to be, He gives us the grace to accomplish. I can be a peacemaker because I am the child of God and He is the peacemaker.
Lord, give us the courage to live at peace with one another by lovingly confronting conflict in a timely manner, being merciful and compassionate to one another.
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