Revenge. Retaliation. Stick it to 'em. Dog eat dog.
These words are familiar to us, yet do they guide us? How do you handle conflict? Do you seek revenge or retaliation? Do the means justify the end? Do you advise your kids, "You better not start the fight, but you darn near better be the one to finish it?"
Did you know that God has an order for how we are to overcome evil done to us? Did you know that His plan is perfect? Do you know what His plan is?
At the heart of most of our struggles in life is conflict. Conflict with loved ones, bosses, children, even brothers and sisters in the Lord. God's Word gives us guidelines on how we are to respond to evil done to us. My next couple of blogs I hope to discuss this important issue.
For now, I want you to go and read Romans 12:14-21. This is the divine prescription for overcoming conflicts.
2 comments:
The entire book of 1 Peter really harps on this topic, especially chapter 3. I think what it comes down to is that we are to live such good lives that God our Father is honored and glorified on that day, no matter if we suffer our entire lives under a tyrannical ruler, (if you could get out from underneath that than that would be great) either way, we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Obviously its easier said than done especially in America where people are raised in the "Burger King" nation "Have it Your Way" and "I'm gonna get mine". I truly believe that our walk with Christ is a proportional one. To the extent I allow Christ to rule in my heart is what people will see and will be reflected in my life in all aspects. We are what we worship, when we spend time with Him we become ike Him, and are able to respond and react in a honorable manner. Matthew 6:22 The eye is the lamp of the body, if your eyes are good then the whole body is full of light, but if your eyes are bad then your body will be full of darkness, and in Colossians 3 it says to set our hearts and minds on things above not on earthly things. We have to make a conscious decision to think upon the things of God, to do the things God would have us to do, to be a blessing, to be kind, to be compassionate, and only then will our ives be a reflection of Christ.
I look forward to reading your insight into this topic. It is definitely a topic that needs to be cussed and discussed.
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