MFM Daily Devotional 25 February 2022
TOPIC: Resolving Conflicts (II)
MEMORY VERSE: Romans 12:18 – “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES: It is better to resolve conflicts than to dissolve a relationship.
PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY: Receive the grace to be a peacemaker, in the Name of Jesus.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP: Take praise and worship songs as led by the Holy Spirit
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:25-32
MFM Daily Devotional 25 February 2022 MESSAGE
The Bible deals explicitly with resolution of conflicts. From the beginning to the end, you find the message of peace with God and peace with fellow men as stated in 1 John 4:20. It is by doing this that we maintain unity in the Church as children of God, and peace in our relationships, in the family, neighbourhood or workplace.
The Bible shows us the maturity and godliness in Abraham when there was a dispute between his herdsmen and Lot’s in Genesis 13:5-13. Rather than argue or quarrel, he calmly asked Lot to make a choice between the available places. Lot’s choice was Sodom and Gomorrah, which he chose out of sight. However, the place he left for Abraham turned out to be the better choice.
What about Isaac and the Philistines over the wells in Genesis 26:21-25? He gently asked his men to go and dig new wells. Surprisingly to his adversaries, Isaac became wealthier than they ever imagined.
Still in the Old Testament, we have the case of Joseph and his brothers. Theirs is a popular story. Joseph’s brothers meant evil for Joseph but God turned it around for good.
One thing is most remarkable in these Bible stories. There was no bitterness, no anger, no rancour or hatred from these patriarchs. They had the mind of God and would not allow conflicts to last long or destroy their relationship with others. They stood for peace so much that their opponents came to make peace with them. The Lord expects the same from us.
This is not a way of sweeping matters under the carpet. Rather, you seek opportunity to discuss and agree on the way forward. This calls for effective communication between the parties involved, a reasonable level of calmness, where self is laid to rest and each person is ready to forbear and forgive (Philippians 2:3-4).
Apostle Paul, in his epistles, kept reminding brethren of peaceful relationship at every cadre of life if truly, they want to be known as true disciples and children of God.
In 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, while addressing disputes in the Corinthian church, he frowned at Christians putting up lawsuits against one another. He considered it a disgrace to heaven, especially so because saints will be judges of this world. He called everyone to reconciliation, no matter the cause of the dispute, living peacefully with one another and forgiving one another as Christ forgave us.
He didn’t stop at teaching others what to do. Paul, in his usual way, demonstrated a mature and disciplined Christian mind by showing examples worthy of emulation in this regard between him and Barnabas over John Mark, with whom he later reconciled.
Beloved, the truth is that if you can follow the precepts of God in managing relationships and resolving differences. You would be able to do the same anywhere you are at any point in time. This is not only in the church, but also in your family and the world at large where we have been called to be the light and the salt.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 12–14; Mark 5:21–43
PRAYER POINTS
MORNING
1. Anointing of a peacemaker, come upon my life, in the Name of Jesus.
2. I refuse to be a destroyer of good relationships, in the Name of Jesus.
3. Wisdom to resolve matters amicably, my life is available, fill me, in the Name of Jesus.
EVENING
4. My Father, connect me with people of godly mind, in the Name of Jesus.
5. Spirit of understanding, possess me, in the Name of Jesus.
6. Power of godly reconciliation, come upon me, in the Name of Jesus.
7. I receive grace to understand and tolerate difficult people, in the Name of Jesus.
