Song of Songs 2:15, NKJV “… the little foxes that spoil the vines…”
The longer you avoid the problem, the bigger the problem gets. Pain is part of the progress. Often, the pain you’re willing to endure is the difference between where you are and where God wants you to be.
Remember the reason to confront the conflict. Confrontation that brings the right pain will produce gain for both parties and is for the church’s good. Remember that if you don’t handle the conflict confrontation the right way, it will bring offense.
Offenses come because of unfulfilled or wrong expectations. Offenses cause you to have a clouded view of those you feel have offended you. It’s easy to be deceived when you have been offended. When it’s you it’s circumstantial; when it’s them, it’s character. Offenses not dealt with lead to bitterness. The cure for offense is to learn to be quick to repent/forgive. If you think you did the offending, be quick to ask the person to forgive you. If that person asks you to forgive them, be quick to forgive. If they don’t ask, be quick to forgive them.
Luke 23:34, NKJV “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots.”
Personal internal conflict. This is an internal conflict that you have not handled personally. When a person has not handled their internal personal conflicts, they often cause conflicts with others they don’t even understand. When the enemy can’t seem to win with external force, he will result to internal conflict. Rejection is one of the greatest struggles of personal internal conflict.
Ephesians 6:11-12, NKJV “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Today’s Challenge: Do you have a personal internal conflict you have not handled? Do you have a conflict with another person that you have not yet dealt with? Ask God to reveal the next step to handle the confrontation the right way.