We are all human and act human. Peter was addressing conflicts in the church by dealing with topics such as submission, harmony and peacekeeping. Some people delight in peace while others stir up trouble~ always trying to get their way. God wants us to be peacemakers. During difficult times the enemy wants to kill and destroy and it appears there is no better way than to cause conflict.
This chapter has been an eye opener to me. I truly see God answering my prayers that I have been praying for years. We have seen a major miracle in our family ~ yet I have never had Satan attack me as he has the past five months. I feel as though I have come through the fire. We have all been wounded by others. To be honest I think men and women see and do this differently. Women can be mean. I have been wounded~ and I know I have wounded others. My personality is take charge~ get it done ~ which at times comes across mean. I have to work on this~ I am a work in progress. Women who are leaders tend to wound if they are not careful.
Peter explains how to have Biblical harmony in the church and in our relationships in the verses below. We are to be sympathetic to others in the church as they were siblings. You know my siblings are really special to me and I would defend them to the ends of the earth. I would lay down my life for them~ I love them as much as I love myself. ~ Peter tells us to be as loving to others in the church just like they were are siblings~ after all we all are the family of God. Okay ~well if that did not convict you as much as it did me~ I am not sure what to say. Guilty!
Finally Peter asks us to be humble. In today's society we are plagued with "I" and individualism. In fact we as women tend to struggle with pride, envy and jealousy. When was the last time you confessed the sin of wanting to look better than others? These qualities do not lead to harmony in the church or anywhere else for that matter.
To help us understand this better Peter quotes~ Psalms 34:12-16 which reads~
Psalm 34:12-16
King Ja (KJV)
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When we who have Jesus living in our hearts bite, devour, gossip and wound each other ~ what does this say to the lost world we are trying to reach?
Conflict arises when we have unreal expectations on others. I am guilty of this~ you are guilty of this. We need to realize as women that our husbands can't fill our empty cups~ it is just wrong to expect our children to fill the emptiness inside of us, nor can we expect our friends or even our church to do this. Our Pastor can't meet our needs either. Who are you expecting to meet all your needs? When we feel as though someone has let us down and not fulfilled our expectations we tend to strike out at them~wounding them. If we would offer more grace to others~ there would be less conflict.
We must turn to God to fill these longings. The Bible calls us to be peacemakers. People can't meet our needs. We all need to be doing the work that God called us to do. You see we are to obey God and do what He wants us to do whether it pleases others or not. Offer love and forgiveness to those who have wounded us and move on~ let it go. Not everyone will always be happy with me~ but I am going to do my best to live a life in which God is happy with me. Being a peacemaker does not mean that I try to make others happy.
Personal attacks, difficult people and conflicts are bound to happen in church and in our relationships. Learning to differentiate between constructive criticism and destructive attacks will help us live in harmony with others. We need to be able to thrive in conflict as we learn to disarm and love others who hurt us. The study refers to a book written by Kelly Mathews~ titled "Leading Woman Who Wound." I just ordered the book. This has been a fantastic Bible study for me this week.
Next week's lesson is on Standing When Wronged.
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When we who have Jesus living in our hearts bite, devour, gossip and wound each other ~ what does this say to the lost world we are trying to reach?
Conflict arises when we have unreal expectations on others. I am guilty of this~ you are guilty of this. We need to realize as women that our husbands can't fill our empty cups~ it is just wrong to expect our children to fill the emptiness inside of us, nor can we expect our friends or even our church to do this. Our Pastor can't meet our needs either. Who are you expecting to meet all your needs? When we feel as though someone has let us down and not fulfilled our expectations we tend to strike out at them~wounding them. If we would offer more grace to others~ there would be less conflict.
We must turn to God to fill these longings. The Bible calls us to be peacemakers. People can't meet our needs. We all need to be doing the work that God called us to do. You see we are to obey God and do what He wants us to do whether it pleases others or not. Offer love and forgiveness to those who have wounded us and move on~ let it go. Not everyone will always be happy with me~ but I am going to do my best to live a life in which God is happy with me. Being a peacemaker does not mean that I try to make others happy.
Personal attacks, difficult people and conflicts are bound to happen in church and in our relationships. Learning to differentiate between constructive criticism and destructive attacks will help us live in harmony with others. We need to be able to thrive in conflict as we learn to disarm and love others who hurt us. The study refers to a book written by Kelly Mathews~ titled "Leading Woman Who Wound." I just ordered the book. This has been a fantastic Bible study for me this week.
Next week's lesson is on Standing When Wronged.
This week's text~
1 Peter 3:8-12
King James Version (KJV)
8Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Matthew 18:15-17
King James Version (KJV)
15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
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