Families, churches, places of employment, schools, government, and every other facet of life have it. You cannot avoid it unless you live on a deserted island by yourself (even then it’s still possible). What is it? Conflict. My post for today is simply to ask you to read the following passages of Scripture and answer each question:
1. Where do conflicts originate?
James 4:1-4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
2. When handling a conflict/disagreement, how can you tell if you or the other individual(s) are responding from their flesh or from the Holy Spirit?
Galatians 5:19-23 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. . . .22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control;
3. What is a biblical way to handle conflicts?
James 4:6-10 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Be sure to record your answers in your journal. One final thought—if a cup of coffee was bumped, what would come out of the cup? Obviously, coffee. When you are bumped in life by someone else, what comes out? (See Galatians 5:19-23 for your answer.) What’s the answer? (See James 4)
From A Pastor's Heart 