Bible Reading: Isaiah 24-26; Ephesians 4
“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”- Ephesians 4:3
When the devil wants to short change the faith of a child of God especially when it is a season of blessings or defining moment, he causes strife to arise. Offence has kept people behind on God’s calendar for their lives. It is better to cut out any form of strife before strife cuts you short.
The truth is, there will actually be legitimate reasons to walk in strife towards men and even God but like Abraham, you can choose the way of peace because every time a child of God rejects strife and chooses to walk in peace, there is always an elevation.
Joseph was serially mistreated by his own brothers who sold him into slavery in Egypt, his master’s wife and the butler that forgot him for two good years yet he refused to carry the baggage of hurt and maltreatment into his future. As a matter of fact, when his brothers finally came to Egypt and were in doubt as to Joseph’s disposition to them, he told them, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” – Genesis 45:5. He chose the path of peace and God lifted him to prominence.
The thing about avoiding strife is that it protects you because you can’t effectively discern the voice of God in strife. It is not necessarily about what the other person did or didn’t do but it is about what strife will do to you. Walking in offence is like drinking poison and wishing the other person death.
Even when you think you want what is God’s best for people and they turn it down, it shouldn’t make you walk in strife towards them. When the nation of Israel rejected Samuel’s leadership as judge over Israel and demanded for a king like other nations, Samuel felt really sad, angry and cried to God and the bible says in 1 Samuel 8:7, “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” No matter what happens, never choose strife, rather choose peace.
This isn’t always easy for the flesh and this is the reason our text uses the word, ‘endeavour’ which actually means ‘to make the necessary effort.’ It doesn’t matter what happens, God will always be on the side of the one who chooses peace. It is your responsibility as a child of God that there is peace among the brethren. Be that person that maintains peace and you will never fail in life.
Prayer: Father, let Your love dwells in me continually to live in the bond of peace in Jesus Name.
Pastor Alfred Samuel