What is the point?
How often I have served God in the body of Christ with great zeal, only to allow some personality conflict or difference of opinion to enter in and get stuck in it. We are all so varied, it is inevitable that as Christians, we will have conflict.
Here Paul asks Euodia and Syntyche to settle their differences peaceably. They were both zealous servants of the Lord but something had caused them to have a disagreement. (Thank you, Lord that Paul did not name it).
Haven't we all seen it happen? Two gifted people come to odds over a church program, ministry, music, or even flowers for the altar. Paul never mentions sin here, but rather a difference of opinion that was causing the church to get stuck and perhaps, to take sides. Paul asks his friend 'to help these two women settle their disagreement'.
I have often just withdrawn and distanced myself when there is difference of opinion or conflict. I rather sulk and analyze the situation to death, trying to justify my opinion.
God is teaching me to talk to Him about it and pray for His resolution. He brings me to self-examination and in His grace, mercy and love, move beyond my selfishness, to humility. Humility is not giving in, but rather knowing my strengths and weaknesses, and being transparent to others. Allowing God to move between me and conflict, brings true peace and that is far better than me being right or getting my way.
Verse 6 & 7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
God calls us to 'always be full of joy in the Lord", "rejoice", 'let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do', and 'remember, the Lord is coming soon.'
And in the light of the Lord's retuning, what is the point of of our insignificant differences?
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
Here Paul asks Euodia and Syntyche to settle their differences peaceably. They were both zealous servants of the Lord but something had caused them to have a disagreement. (Thank you, Lord that Paul did not name it).
Haven't we all seen it happen? Two gifted people come to odds over a church program, ministry, music, or even flowers for the altar. Paul never mentions sin here, but rather a difference of opinion that was causing the church to get stuck and perhaps, to take sides. Paul asks his friend 'to help these two women settle their disagreement'.
I have often just withdrawn and distanced myself when there is difference of opinion or conflict. I rather sulk and analyze the situation to death, trying to justify my opinion.
God is teaching me to talk to Him about it and pray for His resolution. He brings me to self-examination and in His grace, mercy and love, move beyond my selfishness, to humility. Humility is not giving in, but rather knowing my strengths and weaknesses, and being transparent to others. Allowing God to move between me and conflict, brings true peace and that is far better than me being right or getting my way.
Verse 6 & 7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
God calls us to 'always be full of joy in the Lord", "rejoice", 'let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do', and 'remember, the Lord is coming soon.'
And in the light of the Lord's retuning, what is the point of of our insignificant differences?
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."
