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How Suffering Produces Hope
Daily Bible Reading – 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5
Today’s Key Passage – Romans 5:1-11
I wish I were better at golf. I have played since I was a child, but despite my efforts, I have never been very good. For the most part, I can play without embarrassing myself too badly or slowing down play for everyone behind me, but I am certainly never going to win any tournaments. The problem with my golf game is really a matter of commitment. I do not spend nearly enough time practicing to ever be very good. I am sure that if I got some lessons and spent countless hours practicing the different elements of the game, I could probably improve dramatically. Who knows, with enough time and practice, I might even become quite good. The problem is that I simply do not want to expend that much time and energy on the sport, even though I know that the only way to ever get better is with extensive practice. In this regard, most things in life work a lot like golf. In most matters, if we want to improve we need to practice. If I want to be a better golfer, I need to golf more. If I want to be a better cook, I need to cook more. This concept is also true with character. If I want to become more patient, I need to endure times when my patience is tested. If I want to worry less, I need to endure times when I am tempted to worry. If I want to have more faith, I need to endure times when my faith is tested.
This concept is carried over in today’s key passage as Paul explains how suffering produces hope. He says, “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Vs. 3-4) Most people do not like to suffer, but as Paul explains, we can actually rejoice in our suffering not because we like pain, but because we know that God is using our suffering to produce hope. Imagine if you will a flow chart that begins with suffering. The suffering that we face in terms of life’s difficulties or attacks from the enemy produces perseverance in much the same way that practicing golf makes you a better golfer. The more we suffer, the more perseverance we build. This perseverance strengthens our character by building our trust and our faith in God, because the more we suffer, the more we must lean on God’s strength to get through difficult times. As our faith and trust in God builds, our hope will also build as we gain greater and greater confidence in our future. In this way, though it might sound counterintuitive, suffering produces hope.
The next time you face suffering, think of it in these terms. Instead of wondering why God is allowing you to suffer, thank Him for giving you the opportunity to build your perseverance, character, and hope. Thank Him for helping you grow and mature. Thank Him for loving you enough to give you hope.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
Related articles
- Why Persevere Through Pain and Trials? Because God Perseveres with Us (chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com)
- Into this Grace in which we stand (leadmeintheeverlastingway.com)
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Pilate Washes His Hands of Jesus
Daily Bible Reading – 2 Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27
Today’s Key Passage – Matthew 27:11-26
In 1818, Ignaz Phillip Semmelweis was born into a world of dying women. The finest hospitals in the world lost one out of six young mothers to the scourge of “childbed fever.” A doctor’s daily routine began in the dissecting room where he performed autopsies. From there, he made his way to the hospital to examine expectant mothers without ever pausing to wash his hands. Dr. Semmelweis was the first man in history to associate such examinations with the resultant infection and death of the new mothers. His own practice was to wash with a chlorine solution, and after eleven years and the delivery of 8,537 babies, he lost only 184 mothers–about one in fifty. Though none of his colleagues believed him at the time, we know today about the importance of washing our hands. In today’s key passage however, we see a different kind of hand washing. The religious leaders were calling for Jesus execution, and Pilate was feeling the pressure. He knew what he should do. His own conscience told him that Jesus was not guilty of anything, and his wife confirmed his suspicions, but Pilate knew that if he released Jesus he would have a possible revolt on his hands that could cost him his job. Since he could not come up with a solution that would make everyone happy, he decided to make no decision at all. We read in verse 24, “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘“It is your responsibility!’” Pilate wanted to simply walk away from the decision and not take responsibility for the outcome, but in the end, he still allowed Jesus to be crucified. In the end, he was still guilty.
There are many times when we can all feel tempted to simply “wash our hands” of a situation. When we see people who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, we may be tempted to not deal with the question of who He is. When we see temptations in our lives that may lead us to sin, it is often too difficult to cut those temptations out of our lives completely. When we see other believers sinning, it is often easier to stay quiet instead of correcting them in love. When we see someone in need, it is often easier to walk by him instead of stopping to help. I could fill this page and probably a couple more simply listing out examples of when we might be tempted to “wash our hands” of a situation instead of dealing with it, but the point is that in each of these examples there is one common truth – washing our hands does not make us innocent. Walking away and choosing not to deal with a problem does not solve it, and in the eyes of God, we will still be found guilty. When you are tempted to wash your hands of a situation, instead ask God for His guidance. Allow Him to lead you to the right answer. Allow Him to lead you down the right path.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
To become a fan of The Daily Bible Plan’s Facebook Page, CLICK HERE.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
Related articles
- Easter Reflections: The Darkest of Days (graceformymess.com)
- The Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate by Mark D. Roberts (trinityspeaks.wordpress.com)
- Saturday, May 5, 2012 @ Mark 15-16 (phyllisbenigas.wordpress.com)
- Matthew 27 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
- Treasure in the Arms of Christ – Matthew 27:1-10 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Moving On
Daily Bible Reading – 1 Samuel 15,16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1
Today’s Key Passage – 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
Life is filled with disappointments. We will be disappointed by our own actions, circumstances, or health conditions. We will be disappointed by others. There are so many things in this life that will disappoint us, and it can be very easy to let these disappointments get us so discouraged that we stop serving the Lord. When things are not going the way we would like them to go, we can have a tendency to give up, but there is a time to accept the disappointments we have faced and move on to whatever God has planned for us next. In today’s key passage, the prophet Samuel was disappointed. He had anointed Saul as King of Israel, but because Saul chose not to follow God’s instructions, he had failed. Samuel was in deep mourning over Saul’s failure, but through his pain God teaches us four lessons about moving on after a disappointment.
The first lesson we learn is that there is a time to stop mourning. In Verse 1 we read, “The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” Even though Samuel was disappointed about Saul’s failure, God knew that his mourning would never change the situation. There is a time to stop grieving and realize that in spite of whatever disappointments we have faced, God is in control.
The second lesson we learn is that we must accept God’s will. Samuel believed that Saul was going to be a good king when he anointed him, but God rejected Saul because of his own actions. Samuel had to accept the fact that God had another plan for Israel and for him. Many times, we tend to hold on to what we think God’s will should be for our lives, when in reality God might have an entirely different plan for us. No matter what we might think at the present time, God’s plan for us is always the best plan, even if it does not fit into our current way of thinking.
The third lesson we learn is that there will come a time when we must simply move on to the next thing God is calling us to do. God’s plan was for Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint another king. Although Samuel was afraid of what Saul would do if he heard about Samuel anointing another king, he still chose to obey God and go to Bethlehem. When we finally stop mourning over a disappointment and accept God’s will for our lives, we will find we can move forward and do as God directs.
The final lesson we learn is that we have to follow God’s directions as we move forward. When Samuel first saw Jesse’s son Eliab, he immediately assumed that this would be the new king. It was not until he heard from God that he realized his mistake. He had to listen for God’s guidance and God ultimately led him to David as the new king of Israel. Following our disappointments, we need to spend time getting back in tune with God.
Moving on from disappointment can be a hard thing to do, but it is something we will all need to do in this life. Fortunately, God provides us with a road map to follow on our journey. As we read His Word daily, we can learn His tips for moving on, and we can ensure we are following Him.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
Related articles
- I Samuel 16:12-23 God’s Favor By Association (recoveredheart.wordpress.com)
- Encouragement for Today… (momsfirstscreenn.wordpress.com)
- When an Opportunity Is Given, We Still Have to Earn It (christopherscottblog.typepad.com)
- David made king over Israel (thebiblehistorybooks.wordpress.com)
- 1 Samuel 28 (asorensen.wordpress.com)
Creating Our Own Storms
Daily Bible Reading – 1 Samuel 11,12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11
Today’s Key Passage – 1 Samuel 12:12-25
After serving Israel for years as a judge, Samuel made a farewell speech to the Israelites. In it, Samuel affirmed in the minds of the Israelites that he was trustworthy. He reminded them of their history and pointed out their wrongs against God. He also reminded them that it was their idea to appoint a king over Israel against God’s clear instructions. Once the stage was set, Samuel then said, “‘Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes! Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call upon the LORD to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the LORD when you asked for a king.’ Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel.” (Vs. 16-18)
To fully understand this passage, it is important to point out a few things about Israel at this time. This event took place during the wheat harvest, which was near the end of the dry season in Israel during May and June. During the dry season, rain was a rarity, so having a thunderstorm at this time was considered a miracle. Unlike most “good” miracles, however, a thunderstorm during this time of the year could have been disastrous for the Israelites. Any amount of rain during the wheat harvest could damage the crops and cause them to rot. With this historical information in place, we can now see that this thunderstorm clearly illustrated God’s anger with Israel over asking for a king. If they had never asked for a king, they would have never had to face that storm.
Sometimes the storms we face in life are created by our own actions. If we fail to work hard at our jobs, we might find ourselves unemployed. If we fail to treat our spouse the way we should, we might find ourselves with relationship problems. Understand that not all of the trials we face are caused by our own actions. Many times our periods of distress will have nothing to do with what we did and will instead be caused by the evil present in this world. It is still important to note, however, that when we go against God, He will sometimes send us storms as a way of correcting us. For this reason, anytime we face a storm it is important that our first step is to search our hearts for any unconfessed sin. If we discover sin in our lives, our natural reaction as humans might be to try to hide from God. Samuel offers a much better solution in verse 20 – “‘Do not be afraid,’ Samuel replied. ‘You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.’” When we discover that we have created our own storm, we must take that opportunity to press in closer to God instead of turning away from Him. After all, God is the only one that can save us from the storms, even if we have created them ourselves. If you have found that you are in the midst of a storm that you have created, find comfort in Samuel’s words in verse 22 when he says, “For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.” If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you are one of His people. You are one of His children. He alone will not reject you. He alone will calm the storm.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
Related articles
- Lord Will You Bless Me? 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (dianneguthmuller.com)
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Looking Forward to God’s Reign
Daily Bible Reading - Numbers 5,6; Psalm 22; Acts 26
Today’s Key Passage - Psalm 22:12-31
In Psalm 22, David was suffering through a great trial. Through his suffering, he was able to gain victory by knowing that the Father would protect him and deliver him. David knew that despite his current struggles, one day God would reign supreme in the world and that all of his problems would be over.
Hundreds of years later, Jesus Christ would also suffer through a great trial. Jesus would be encircled by a pack of villains, who would pierce His hands and feet. His bones would be on display and people would stare and gloat over Him. They would divide His clothes among them and cast lots for His garment. Through his suffering, he was also able to gain victory by knowing that His Father would protect him and deliver him. Jesus knew that despite His current struggles, one day He would reign supreme in the world and that all of His problems would be over. He knew that, “all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.”
Today, we will all suffer through times of great trials. We will all face times when we will feel as though we are encircled by a pack of villains. In these times of suffering, we can take solace knowing that as the children of God, our Father in Heaven will deliver us from evil and will protect us. We can all look forward to the day when Jesus returns to reign over everything. “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” (Matthew 16:27) When that day comes, all of our trials that seem so pressing today will be a distant memory. The house that we live in, the car that we drive, the phone that we carry, and the computer we use will mean nothing. Our moments of greatest despair and agony will seem like a speck of dust floating in the wind. We can rejoice today for the joy we will have tomorrow, and we can rest in the comfort of His love forever.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
To become a fan of The Daily Bible Plan’s Facebook Page, CLICK HERE.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
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Dealing With Problems
Daily Bible Reading - Numbers 3,4; Acts 25
Today’s Key Passage - Acts 25:1-22
Festus took over for Felix as the Roman governor of Judea, and he had a problem. Just three days into his position, he found out that he had a man named Paul in his prison who had been there for two years. He also found out that the Jewish leaders wanted this man dead. Festus was the new guy in town. He was new to his position and the last thing he wanted to do was ruffle any feathers in the very beginning of his term in office, but the problem was not going to go away. Something had to be done about Paul and about the Jews who wanted him dead. He called them all together to hear the charges, and by his own later admission to Agrippa, he was baffled. He told Agrippa that when he convened the court and allowed Paul’s accusers to speak, “they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters”. Since Festus did not know what to do, he first wanted to send Paul back to Jerusalem, but Paul refused to go because he was a Roman citizen. Therefore, Festus agreed to send Paul on to Caesar to have his case heard. Ultimately, Festus simply did not know how to deal with the problem of Paul and therefore wanted to let someone else take care of it.
How often in our lives does the temptation come for us to do the same thing? As problems arise for us, we often do not know exactly how to handle them and we can easily be tempted not deal with them at all. When we see a non-believer who does not know the Way, we can be tempted to “bury our heads in the sand” and not talk to them about Christ because it might be uncomfortable. When we see a fellow believer sinning, we can be tempted to “bury our heads in the sand” and not confront them on their sins because we want to maintain the peace. Just like Festus, we can be tempted to try to send others on their way to allow someone else to deal with the problem, but none of this is biblical. Being a follower of Christ does not afford us the opportunity to “bury our heads in the sand”. Jesus was very specific when He told us how to deal with problems, and regardless of the situation we are called to deal with problems head on. Having an argument with your spouse? Deal with the problem head on and have a discussion with her. Feeling slighted by a friend? Deal with the problem head on and explain to him how you feel. See a brother or sister in Christ sinning? Deal with the problem head on and go to him or her to point out the sin in a loving way.
So why is all of this important? Why are we not to “bury our heads in the sand” and not deal with the problems that come up in life? Often the answer to that lies in the aftermath. If you see a non-believer and fail to talk to them about salvation, you are essentially condemning them to eternal separation from God. If you see a fellow Christian sinning and do not say anything, you are not showing them the love of Christ and in effect are actually “hating” them. If you are having an argument with your spouse and you do not try to work it out, seeds of anger and hostility are sown in your heart toward her. If you feel slighted by your friend and you do not explain how you feel, seeds of animosity are sown in your heart toward him. Eventually, these seeds will grow, fester, and become a much bigger problem in your relationships. While it might be uncomfortable for us in the short term, the long-term benefits to our relationships of dealing with problems head on are huge. Do not be like Festus. Do not look for ways to avoid dealing with issues when they arise. Deal with them constructively and with love and watch your relationships with others and with God grow beyond your wildest dreams.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
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Keeping a Clear Conscience
Daily Bible Reading - Numbers 1,2; Acts 24
Today’s Key Passage - Acts 24:1-16
The high priest Ananias and some of the elders went to Caesarea to bring their charges against Paul to Governor Felix. Specifically, they were claiming three charges against Paul – that he was a troublemaker who incited riots, that he was one of the leaders of an unauthorized religious sect, and that he tried to desecrate the temple. When Paul was given a chance to defend himself before Felix, he did so and plainly stated that the charges against him were false. Paul stated that he strives, “always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”
What does it mean to keep a clear conscience before God and man and why is it important? We can start with taking a look at keeping a clear conscience before God. We do this by following His ways and living the way He wants us to live. We keep our conscience clear before God by staying away from sin and unrighteousness. Obviously we are not perfect, so when we do sin we immediately confess that sin to Him and ask for forgiveness. In addition, we repent (or turn away from) that sin and turn to God. Ultimately, we keep our conscience clear through our faith in Jesus Christ. Through His actions and through His mercy and grace we can live in right relationship to God and keep our conscience clear before him.
What about keeping our conscience clear before man? We do this by treating others the way we should treat them. We do this by not lying, deceiving, or cheating others and by showing them the love of Christ. We keep our conscience clear before man not by our own efforts, but by the actions of Christ who lives within us and gives us the power to treat others better than ourselves. Without His help, we would constantly fail in this area and we would never be able to keep our consciences clear before man, but He gives us the power to do just that.
So why is all of this important? Why should we strive to keep our conscience clear before God and man? Because guilt is a tool that the enemy uses against us. When we do not keep our conscience clear we feel guilty, and often that guilt stops us in our tracks and keeps us from fulfilling our mission for God. How many times do relationships fail (either relationships with God or with others) because of guilt? When people feel guilty, they tend to want to run away from the relationship causing it to crumble. Guilt can be a powerful thing, and we must fight it at every turn, and the most complete way to avoid guilt is to keep our conscience clear before God and man. Fortunately for us, Jesus provided us a perfect model to do this in Matthew 22:37-40 - “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” When we keep these two commandments, we will keep our consciences clear and never have to worry about guilt getting in our way.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
To become a fan of The Daily Bible Plan’s Facebook Page, CLICK HERE.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
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The Right Place at the Right Time
Daily Bible Reading - Leviticus 26,27; Acts 23
Today’s Key Passage - Acts 23:12-24
Some of the men from the Sanhedrin wanted to kill Paul. They viewed Paul as a threat, and they vowed not to eat or drink until Paul was dead. They came up with a plot against him, and planned to attack him while traveling to stand before the commander of the Roman army. But God had different plans in mind. God was watching over Paul and protecting him. Paul’s nephew heard about the plot to kill him because God put him in the right place at the right time. Paul’s nephew went to Paul to tell him about the plot to kill him, and Paul instructed his nephew to tell the commander what he had heard. When Paul’s nephew went to the commander, the commander could have dismissed the boy’s story, but instead God moved him to listen and to act. The commander came up with a plan to protect Paul and get him to Governor Felix and away from the threat.
Time and time again in the Bible we see that God has perfect timing. He knows when and where to act to produce the best results. We also see time and time again that God does a lot of things in the background that we do not even know about to protect us. Paul did not know about this plot against him and did not even know to be praying to God to thwart it, but God already knew. He knew to put Paul’s nephew in the right place at the right time to hear about the plot. God moved Paul’s nephew not to just sit on the information he had but to actually take it to Paul. God moved the commander to listen to Paul’s nephew and to move Paul out of harm’s way. God did all of this in the background without Paul even knowing what the outcome would be. In Jeremiah 29:11, we read, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God’s plans for us will not be thwarted. He will use His perfect timing and whatever means necessary to ensure we are fulfilling his ultimate plans for us, even when we are completely unaware that this is going on in the background. How many times has God moved in the background of your life and saved you from pain without you even knowing it? How many times has he placed people in exactly the right place at the right time for your benefit without you even having to ask? Never underestimate God’s love for you and all that He does to protect you, and always remember the words from Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
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Shaking The Dust
Daily Bible Reading - Leviticus 15-17; Acts 18
Today’s Key Passage - Acts 18:1-11
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, which at the time was the most important city in Greece. While there, he continued to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people and spoke the truth to them. The Jews in Corinth who were sinning did not want to hear the truth, though, so they “opposed Paul and became abusive“. Paul was once again being persecuted for speaking the truth, and he “shook out his clothes in protest” to the Jews. Paul, who was arguably the best preacher of all time, faced rejection like this often. As good as he was at preaching the Gospel, there were times when he simply could not get his message across to people. Sometimes the people he faced had hardened their hearts to the point where they were simply unable to hear the truth in his message. More often than not, sinners “hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth.” (Amos 5:10), so Paul would find himself being abused and persecuted. In this case, Paul followed an important lesson taught by Jesus himself and “shook out his clothes in protest”.
Jesus knew all about rejection. He constantly faced rejection from others because of his teaching, and we can learn an important lesson in how He handled that rejection. When people asked Jesus to leave a town, He did not try to argue with them. He simply left and moved on. When the rich young man refused Jesus offer to sell everything and follow Him, Jesus did not chase after him and try to convince him. Jesus simply let him leave. When Jesus was sending out his disciples to serve, He taught them this important lesson. He told them, “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” (Matthew 10:14).
When we speak the truth in love, we will sometimes face rejection. When we attempt to lead someone to Christ, we might not immediately succeed. When we attempt to correct another person who is sinning, we might not immediately succeed. We might even be persecuted for our efforts – probably not physically but emotionally. We might be mocked and ridiculed by others. We might be called judgmental for speaking the truth. People might use our past sins prior to being saved against us or even make up lies about us to try to diminish our witness. The fact is that not everyone we share the Gospel with will listen, and Jesus’ lesson is for us to go elsewhere and “shake the dust”. There are many times when we might be tempted to chase after these people, but more often than not, that will only lead them further away from God. When we try to “hold onto the dust” of others, it will only serve to discourage us and might even make us less likely to share our faith in the next situation. Do not let a little rejection come between you and your service to Christ. Remember His words to Paul – “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you”.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
To become a fan of The Daily Bible Plan’s Facebook Page, CLICK HERE.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
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Resolving Conflicts Biblically
Daily Bible Reading - Leviticus 7-9; Acts 15
Today’s Key Passage - Acts 15:1-21
The early Christian church was facing a conflict. Some of the early Christians believed that the Gentiles needed to adhere to Jewish law (including circumcision) before they could become Christians. Other early believers did not think it was necessary to become Jewish before becoming a Christian, and therefore thought circumcision was not necessary. If the conflict was not resolved, the early Christian church could have become split into two sects and therefore would have lost a lot of its momentum along the way. In an effort to resolve the differences between them, the two groups came together in Jerusalem to discuss the matter and to determine where the church would stand on the issue. For the first step in resolving the conflict, they allowed both sides to make their case. The converted Pharisees believed in a legalistic religion and wanted to require circumcision for all Gentile believers. Then Peter, Paul, and Barnabas spoke from their point of view and told of their experiences with the Gentiles being filled with the Holy Spirit despite not being circumcised. Finally, James stepped in and compared both arguments to what was said in the Scriptures to determine which direction was more biblically based. In the end, the decision was made that the Gentile believers would not need to be circumcised prior to conversion to Christianity.
Today, when we are faced with conflicts we should resolve them in the same way. Our first step should be to allow both sides to state their beliefs clearly and in an open way. Just because someone’s opinion is different from ours does not give us the right to keep him from expressing it. We should hear him out and allow him to speak his mind. We can then seek the counsel of others who are spiritually mature, such as a Pastor, to get guidance on the issue. Finally, the most important step is to compare both sides of the argument to the Bible. We must always consult God’s Word when resolving conflict, since God is the ultimate authority. When we have difficulties discerning who is correct, the Bible will light the way of the truth. Everyone has his own opinion about what is right and what is correct, but ultimately what matters the most is what God’s Word says. When we seek God’s Word in resolving a conflict, we will always make the best choice.
During your Bible reading today, what “key passages” stood out to you? Leave a comment below to share what God is showing you about His Word today.
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May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.
