How Do You Handle Conflict?

PRAY OVER THIS

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

 

PONDER THIS

When considering reconciliation within the Church, the first thing you need to do is to consider your relationship with the person who has sinned against you. He or she is your brother or sister. This is somebody that has come out of the womb of grace, somebody who, along with you, calls God Father. And you must consider that relationship even when you are at odds with that person. You may argue, “Maybe he’s not a brother. Maybe he’s never really been saved. Maybe he just has his name on a church roll.” Well, if he’s not a brother, then he’s lost and he’s blind, and he deserves the pursuit of God in unity and prayer even more because he needs to be reconciled to God. But if he is a brother, then to harm him is to harm yourself because you’re both spiritual siblings and members of the same body.

How do you treat people when you feel at odds with them? Does that reflect Christ? Why or why not?

Why do you think we often abandon a loving response when we start to have conflict with others?

PRACTICE THIS

Express love to someone with whom you have had difficulty.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers