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CONFLICTS ARE COMMON<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Conflicts have been around since the beginning of time when Cain became jealous of Abel and killed him in an outburst of anger (Genesis 4:3-12). Centuries later, when the United States was divided by a Civil War, President Lincoln wisely referred to the biblical admonition, \u201cA house divided against itself cannot stand\u201d (Matthew 12:25). In Amos 3:3 God posed the question, \u201cHow can two walk together, unless they are in agreement?\u201d They can\u2019t and we can\u2019t. We\u00a0must be in one accord in order to effectively work together. United we stand!<\/p>\n WE\u2019RE ON THE SAME SIDE<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Everyone in the world is part of the human race; we are all part of the same great big family. Every single person is\u00a0derived from Adam and Eve, the progenitors of the human race.\u00a0Even though we have different nationalities, races or subcultures, we are\u00a0all in this together. Therefore, it is important to remember that you and those with whom you are associated are on the same side. This is true regardless of what you act like, look like or feel like, even though you may have opposing views or even become argumentative. At the end of the day, you are all on the same team and each of you wants to survive, thrive and do the job assigned.<\/p>\n When our son played baseball, I helped coach his little league team. Before each game the players\u00a0would all gather in a circle and place their hands together one on top of the other as a show of unity. Then the coach would ask, \u201cWhat are we?\u201d They would answer, \u201cWe are a team!\u201d He would respond, \u201cWhat is a team?\u201d And they would all shout, \u201cA team is everyone working together as one.\u201d That is teamwork!<\/p>\n TEAMWORK<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 To experience true teamwork as Ephesians 4:3 instructs us, you should endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. You must find a way to function in unity and harmony with one another. How? The fruit of the Holy Spirit is peace (Galatians 5:22). As you allow God\u2019s Spirit to control you, He will create an atmosphere of peace in all that you say and do.<\/p>\n God is not the author of confusion or conflict; He is the author of peace because Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. As Christ works through you, He will be the peacemaker, bringing order and effective results in every situation.<\/p>\n LOVE COVERS IT ALL<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Another important thing to keep in mind in resolving differences is love\u2014God\u2019s love.\u00a0 According to 1 Peter 4:8, love covers a multitude of sins (faults and failures). And Proverbs 10:12 says, \u201cHatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.\u201d God\u2019s love is very forgiving and accepting. The following Scripture passage gives a very helpful description of God\u2019s Love.<\/p>\n \u201cLove is slow to lose patience\u2014it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen\u201d (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 PHILLIPS).<\/p>\n THE GOLDEN RULE SAYS IT ALL<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Jesus gave us a very simple, practical rule to live by known as\u00a0THE GOLDEN RULE.\u00a0He said, \u201cDo unto others as you would have them do unto you\u201d (Matthew 7:12). And in the same context, Jesus said that you should \u201cLove your neighbor as yourself\u201d (Mark 12:31). Love, God\u2019s love, is the missing building block in most relationships. And if love is not present, then people\u00a0will act like wild animals, hurting and harming each other until they\u00a0completely destroy one another. \u201cFor the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.\u00a0If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.\u00a0So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. . . And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace . . . \u201d (Galatians 5:14-16, 22).<\/p>\n Only God\u2019s Spirit can produce the kind of unconditional love that is needed for strong enduring relationships. Only God\u2019s love can enable you to forgive and forget. Therefore, let God\u2019s love and peace operate through you so that\u00a0you will achieve the desired objective of harmonious relationships, while enjoying inner peace and a sense of accomplishment. May God bless you in all that you say and do!<\/p>\n Dr. Lewis Gregory, Source Ministries \u00a9 2017<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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