Keeping the Peace

Had a very encouraging text conversation the other day.  There was a little misunderstanding in our church, where an action was done without consulting one of our ministry heads about it.  Of course this brought reaction and it was questioned.  As small as the situation was I think many of us know how Satan will bring all his might to make a molehill into a mountain and escalate the problem to the point that chaos and disunity comes upon a church, therefore destroying its testimony.  And not just in churches, but in all relationships - marriages, family, ministries, friendships.  All Satan wants is to hinder our lives from being models of the Lord concerning His life.

I was just so encouraged, blessed and thankful that after all the questions and clarifications were sent through text, the ministry head who was affected sent this message:  "But anyway pastor, there's nothing we can't work out.  We can talk about it with the administrator next Sunday".  Wow, a big smile coming from a very thankful and blessed heart came, and I thanked God for moving, and allowing the ministry head to have that attitude.  It obviously killed the fiery arrows that Satan had fired our way, and allowed the Holy Spirit to be the one to solve the misunderstanding for us.
This was God's Word in action, being applied in a situation that could have erupted and brought dire consequences.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Can you imagine if each one of us, in our own contexts - whether it is the church, or in our marriage, families, friendships - when we have misunderstandings or conflicts, would just apply God's Word, can you imagine how peaceful and loving our relationships would be, and how this would speak to the world!  If all of us would just be conscious of the Lord's working in our hearts, building Christ's character and love, and if we would just work it out, being completely humble, gentle, bearing with one another, and making every effort to keep the unity we have in the Spirit - what a blessing this would be, and what a testimony we would make to those whose lives we affect - at work, our families, in our church.