Move Over Conflict: Make Way for Reconciliation

Oh, how we love peace. If only it didn’t involve humans (joke)! Our Devotional Team wraps up the journey of encouragement with “Peace Among the Saints.” We pray that you have been encouraged with this week’s scriptures and devotionals!

Someone has said as “unthinkable and unnatural though it may seem, the bride has been brawling for centuries. We get along for a while and then we are back at each other’s throats. After a bit we make up, walk in wonderful harmony for a few days, and then we turn on one another. We can switch from friend to fiend in a matter of moments.” No, we are never astounded to hear of worldly conflicts, but conflicts in the body of Christ, well that’s another story.

Conflict has the potential to reveal true feelings that have been hidden in the heart. They can even expose the insecurities of others who try to hold you hostage for unmet expectations they have never revealed. God desires that we handle conflict with the smallest amount of people – go and tell them their fault or find out what the unspoken issue is between the two of you. Praise the Lord when there is reconciliation, but if not then Matthew 18 must be followed.

John 14:27 says “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Peace is a fruit of the Spirit so we have no excuse, but only a willingness to let the Holy Spirit work in us “to will and do for His good pleasure.”

Prayer: Lord only You can give me a peace that passes understanding when I am willing to yield to Your conviction to make right some wrongs as “much as it depends on me.” Thank You for not letting my heart have any peace when my walk is contrary to Your precious Word.
By Sis. Cheryl Torain