Peculiar People

Thanks GBFC Devotional Team! Your devotionals on "Resistance to Anger and Hate in Conflict"  have been of great encouragement!

As a new believer I was confused at us being called peculiar. I knew in Christ we are so much better; new and improved, even when we accept the invitation to be in the family of God. But how were we peculiar? Well, the subject of believers handling conflict can be an example of our peculiarity. Jesus’ ways are not common to man; Christ stands up and out and He desires that we, too, look quite different from this world. Who, but believers should see conflict as a time to raise our gaze. A time to practice what we train for; God desires that we be champions in the faith. In Him, we can do it! We can “Giantly” live humbly for our Lord!

I was the youngest in my family; and my siblings meant the world to me. I would get absolutely excited, yes beside myself, if one of them came to take me for a ride or allow me to accompany them in running their errands, etc. However, some of our rendezvous would go south; yes, we would have a conflict. My mom (the way I remember it) always insisted that I apologize; it never made sense to me. I was the youngest; why did I have to be the one to pursue forgiveness first? Today, I am aware of (James 4:6), God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Though my mom never verbalized this “one up” passage of scripture, she certainly made me practice it with my siblings and sometimes with my play mates. Without knowing all the details she would cut me off and say, “So now, what are you going to do?”

Well, we have awesome promises; yes, we have great treasures in Christ. In order to experience these faith provisions, we must die to self; we must never be satisfied existing in a prideful, revengeful, or hateful state. We are called to rise; comfort one another (according to how we have been comforted); and we know, Christ forgave us while we were at our worse (Romans 5:8). He gives us weapons that are mighty in pulling down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4). We have the power to cast down any argument that does not align with Him (2 Corinthians10:5). For He is our Good Shepherd, the Light of the world. On the contrary, pride is a dreadful rabbit hole which leads to ultimate destruction and loss of testimony for who we say we love. Let’s turn it around; and turn it around quickly! Even in those “inopportune” times, let’s take the opportunity and privilege to readily rise and demonstrate the love of JESUS, especially to those who are in the household of faith!

Prayer: Lord, we thank You so much for our advantage to die to self and live as unto You; for we know there You give us an abundance of all of who You are - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness; for against such there is no law! Help us to be completely Yours and the “bright” lights in this dark dark world. In Jesus’ Name-Amen.  
By Sis. Lisa Williams.