Given the choice, most of us would choose membership in “the status quo society’: “Lord, things are going pretty well for me now. I’d rather not have trouble knock at my door just now.”
That is a common sentiment. We want to maintain our comfort zone. We dislike change – especially the kind that is brought on by CONFLICT.
The moment friction enters the picture – in our relationships or in our circumstances – the peaceful, easy feeling of the status quo disintegrates. But if we view conflict as an opportunity rather than an obstacle, we make amazing discoveries.
Conflict generates ALERTNESS to both God’s and Satan’s presence. When trouble strikes, we realize we are in spiritual warfare. We sense the adversary at work, but more importantly we are sensitized to God’s Word and His Spirit.
Conflict also generates ACTION. No one has to tell us to open the Scriptures; no one must force us to pray. We are motivated and mobilized by the Lord to both search the Scriptures and pray.
Listen: Conflict changes our ATTITUDES. We become more grateful, more submissive, more dependent on God, more humble, and more understanding of others’ needs.
In closing we are told in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed (meaning - always confident of victory) we are perplexed, but not in despair (meaning – never utterly at a loss); Persecuted, but not forsaken (in other words - pursued, but not actually caught) cast down, but not destroyed (Listen: at times we are knocked down, but not knocked out) Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus (referring to the victory we have through the Cross of Christ), that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (We live the Resurrection Life by understanding that we have been planted together [Christ and ourselves] in the likeness of His Death [Romans 6:5])
Be encouraged and use the CONFLICTS OF LIFE to learn of Jesus and His victory at the CROSS for you and me.
