A People in Conflict

We are a people in conflict.    

I am a person in conflict. Recently, I have hurt another with my words. Now, that person will not talk to me. I have been hurt by other person’s words, words “spoken” after death. The first conflict I hope to resolve soon, the latter well that is a different story. How do you deal with the pain of hearing after someone’s death that person held something against you?

The reality is that to an extent I will need to deal with both conflicts the same. Because initially it is not about my opponent, the one I am in conflict with, but it is about me and first and foremost it is about God. Ken Sande, in his book The Peacemaker, outlined four steps for resolving conflict and pursuing peace. He calls them the 4-G’s of peacemaking. In this post we will look at the first step. Then in the next three posts I will share the other steps, as well as, my journey to bring peace to the conflicts in my life.

Step 1—Glorify God

Went we find ourselves in a conflict, the first thing we need to do is ask is…“How can I use this conflict as an opportunity to glorify God?”

Paul writes in his first letter to the church in Corinth…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31). Because I claim to be Christian, how I deal with the conflicts in my life will either bring glory to God or will bring dishonor to Him. My acts will either show the love and forgiveness of God or will show I am like the world around me and that my faith makes no difference in how I live.

The best way to bring glory to God, at all times but especially, when dealing with a conflict is to trust and obey Him.

We trust Him as we remember His sovereignty –He knows of this conflict (Is 45:7) and can work good through it (Rom 8:28-29), when we let Him and not fight against Him.

We obey Him as we honor all people (1 Peter 2:17), do good, seek peace (Ps. 34:14) and love one another (John 13:35).

In short, we bring glory to God when treat others as He has treated us—when we love (Eph 5:1-2), are merciful (Luke 6:36) and forgive (Eph 4:32) just as God in Christ Jesus has loved, shown mercy and forgiven us.

What conflicts are you dealing with?  How can you act in a way that will bring glory to God?

We will look at the second G next–Get the log out of your eye…