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Thinking, Speaking, Conflicting According to the Gospel

They were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel...” Gal. 2:14

 

Heavenly Father, some of us are conflict allergic, others, conflict addicted, and some are conflict ambivalent. All of us need to grow the heart and learn the art of redemptive conflict. To conflict is human; to conflict redemptively is divine.

Paul entered a conflict with fellow apostle in Galatia because Peter’s attitude and actions contradicted the Gospel (Gal. 2:11-21). His fear of rejection from Jerusalem’s “higher ups” led him to withdraw from fellowshipping with Gentile converts. “Acting in line with the truth of the Gospel” is to be the grace-standard for all of our relationships—the easy ones and the messy ones.

May it be so, Father, wherever we live, work, and play. Help us care more about your glory than our comfort—more about “faith expressing itself in love” than us expressing ourselves to win. Free us to receive feedback non-defensively, and give it lovingly. Our “showing” the Gospel is always a part of our “telling” of the good news of Jesus.

As we continue to watch our culture devolve into relational madness, gaslighting, and canceling the “other,” may we be different, Father. Free us from our inability/unwillingness to sit in the tension of differing opinions, perspectives, and convictions. Until the Day we “know fully as we are fully known,” seeing through a glass dimly and knowing in part will remain in all of us (1 Cor. 13:12).

Staying curious, listening well, and being humble don’t reflect the absence of convictions, but the presence of your Spirit. So Very Amen.

 

 

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