How to Resolve Conflicts as Believers: Gospel Today Devotional - 3rd February, 2024

There's this common thing that you may perhaps have noticed between siblings, friends, family relatives, etc. It is solely the fact that many times when a friend for instance is offended by another, rather than tell the one who offended him that which he did wrong, he would go ahead to tell another person what that person did to him. Sometimes, it continues from one person to the other until everyone comes to hear about it. It may be that through that, they are comforted; maybe perhaps they get some kind of relief from talking to others about it, what do you think?

You would agree with me that many times, we punish ourselves for no reason, right? You may be wondering how but not to worry, I'll tell you. You know many times, we get upset because someone said or did something we didn't like, we refuse to be happy and make certain decisions in our hearts not to talk to such persons or have anything to do with them and the funny thing about this is that they don't even get to know that what they did was wrong. You now understand why I said we sometimes punish ourselves for no reason, right? Because the people we are unhappy with are happy living their lives, resentment  free. That's not just the case, but also the fact that we hinder the relationships we share with such persons.

The issue now is that many believers today now do the same thing, rather than talk with those who offend us, we prefer to tell others about it and be resentful towards them. How do we then deal with this attitude as believers? The scripture explains how, and that will be the focus of today's study. I trust the Lord to teach us himself. The passage of scripture to be considered is seen below,

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican" (Matthew 18:15-17).

The scripture above gives the believer an insight into resolving issues with believers, and non believers alike, that he may by all means live in peace with those around him. Praise God. If you look carefully into the passage of scripture, you would discover that there are steps stated out for the believer. It says first of all that if your brother trespass against you, which implies that your brother can do something wrong against you, and if he does that, the first thing to do is not to tell others about it or begin to be resentful towards him. What then should you do?

The scripture says to go, and tell him his fault, that is, that which he did wrong to you; just you and him alone. And if he listens, then all is fine. The only time you are permitted to invite a third party is if he is unyielding , and then the church. But if after that, he refuses to listen, then it shows that he isn't a brother of the same faith as you, cause everyone born of him(God) would yield to corrections, and do the needful when such happens. Praise God.

If every believer would do this, marriages would be preserved, there would be unity in the church, friendships will not be ruined. All believers need to bear this in mind, that the best way to resolving conflicts as believers is to address the issue with the person in question, and except there's a need to involve a third party, no one should know about it, and you shouldn't show resentment towards a person expecting him to apologise when he doesn't even know what he did, and how will he know except he is told? May the Lord help us to abide by this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thought for the day: 

The best way to resolve conflicts as believers is to talk about them, and except there's a need, no third party should be involved.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].