We canāt get around the fact that in this world weāll have conflict. How many times have we said the wrong thing or displayed the wrong attitude, knowing that it has caused offense? Conflict stems from a lack of understanding the different things that motivate each of us: āWhat causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?ā (James 4:1 ESV). Godās Holy Spirit canāt come to its fullest when weāre divided, and that disunity corrupts … [Read more...] about Conflict Resolution
Be of One Mind
Encourage One Another
How many times have we been reminded by life experience that the path due to our calling is not always simple and easy to follow? We are instructed to enter the Kingdom of God by āthe narrow gateā (Matthew 7:14). Yet Christ was aware of the challenges that His followers would face. He left us, from the apostles forward, with encouragement through a solid focus on the big picture. Encouragement is a vehicle to strengthen relationships and build bonds. We, as part of Godās family, have a … [Read more...] about Encourage One Another
Godās Law Builds Relationships
The law of God requires us to focus very heavily on relationships, our reconciled relationship with the Father dominating. However, from our close relationship with Him flows our relationship with other people. All people are created in the image of God and with the potential to be members of Godās family. We should never lose that focus. Godās law embraces our relationship with all people. A good example of this is in Leviticus 19 where several principles of how people should relate with each … [Read more...] about Godās Law Builds Relationships
The Importance of Fellowship
What makes Godās people stand out? What makes us different from the world around us? One of the ways this world will come to know our Holy Father is by how we show love for one another through our fellowship. Weāll stand out from a world thatās lost its way and lost its love ā a world of relationships fractured by selfishness. The early church of God was born within a hostile society. Jesus had just been crucified by Roman hands at the behest of the Jewish leadership, and it was not … [Read more...] about The Importance of Fellowship