Anyways, when I find myself in conflict with someone, it is hard for me to think about anything else.
My mind and heart are distracted, my energy is drained, my effectiveness in any other area is significantly lessened.
As uncomfortable as those feelings are, I think they are important because they remind us that God doesn't desire for those broken relationships to remain as they are; He desires unity, peace, reconciliation.
I mean, just look at the cross.
Undoubtedly, that was all Jesus thought about in the weeks, days, moments leading up to His betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.
Think for a moment about the people that Jesus had experienced "conflict" with leading up to the cross--Judas, Peter, the high priest, the soldiers, the people who spat on him and mocked him, on and on.
And what did Jesus do?
He died for them. He asked that the Father would forgive them as they were right in the middle of beating him, humiliating him, denying him, breathing threats against him.
He thought about how burdened his soul was, but He also knew what would be accomplished for all mankind.
Unity between Jew and Gentile.
Peace between God and Man and peace among men.
Reconciliation from what was broken and lost in the Garden of Eden.
So, He drank the fullness of the cup.
And everything changed.
The way I approach conflict is completely different now because of Jesus, especially with other believers.
I don't have the option to leave things broken and messed up between brothers and sisters in Christ. That doesn't mean we will always agree on every point. But, if we both claim to love, follow and submit to Jesus Christ, that means we always have the means and the motivation to overcome whatever peace-squelching division exists between us.
Sadly, we all know that divisions still exist. We have all seen the painful effects of broken relationships between believers.
And yet, the Church is what God chose to reveal Himself and His character to the world. He could have used any means. And He chose the broken, messy, often-failed relationships between His people to be what would declare His love and what would mark His people as His disciples.
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another."
John 13:35
And He even chose that the Church would be a display of His glory from the foundation of the world.
"...through the Church the manifold wisdom
of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities
in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he
has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Ephesians 3:10-11
But, maybe that's the whole point after all.
Maybe the fact that we are broken and messy and often divided would show His glory and power and love even more. That we serve a God who uses brokenness for beauty, pain for purpose, division for divine reasons continually leaves me stunned. But, in Him using broken people to march forth His Kingdom, He receives much glory. And when He restores a broken relationship through the Cross, His power is clearly seen.
He's building a household of Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free, men, women--all on the foundation of Jesus Christ--the only foundation upon which all peoples find unity and a common place to stand. He's shaping each of us, chiseling away our anger and hatred and selfishness, so that we might come together as His household. One that, while imperfect, points undeniably to the Savior who fixes broken things and in which God Himself might dwell.
"You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22
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