As members of Christ’s Body, we enjoy a union, which transcends the bonds of our natural family, neighbors, acquaintances, or workmates. God’s Spirit joins us together in spirit, soul, and body. This bond goes deeper than any natural tie and lasts for eternity.
Conflict erects walls between us and shuts us off from enjoying our fellowship with one another. Hurt feelings create barriers and distance between us. Forgiveness is the key ingredient in destroying the walls and restoring sweet companionship.
God encourages us not only to love with words, but with deeds and in truth as well (1 John 3:18). We are holy and beloved by God; therefore, we can put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience as we bear with one another and forgive each other even as the Lord forgives us (Matthew 6:14-15).
God’s agape love is unconditional, and it is the bond of perfection that keeps peace within the Body of Christ (Colossians 3:12-14). With God’s Spirit within us we are capable of abounding in this love to all the Saints, and having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 8:7; Mark 12:30-33).
When we focus our love on God, this bond creates our love for one another. We treat one another with patience and compassion, walk in love just as Jesus loves us, and lay down our life for each other when God leads us to do so (Ephesians 5:1-2; Romans 15:7).
Preferring one another above our self, helps us to bear with each other’s personality quirks and idiosyncrasies (Colossians 3:13; Proverbs 19:11). Discontentment may tempt us to leave one church and find another; however, we take this attitude with us, and experience similar issues in any church we attend.
Prayer:
Father God, help us to communicate with others when we are offended, rather than hopping from one church to another. Remind us that the offense that arose was probably unintentional or maybe even misunderstood. Teach us that forgiveness of our self and others is the key to restoring Your peace in any situation (Proverbs 27:17).
Help us to see that discussing the matter with the offending party, or with them in the presence of the Pastor and a deacon may resolve the issue bothering us. Show us that the longer we stay with one church family, the more trust we build with the other members, and the deeper we experience love, care and community with them (1 John 2:10; Galatians 5:22-23).
Thought for the Day:
Satan often allows an offense to drive us from a church family that God wants to use to help us to mature spiritually or to use for us to help others in that congregation; therefore, fleshly considerations should never be our motivation for leaving, but rather to discern the will of God and to serve in the Body to which He calls us.
- Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 4:2
