[Re-Publish] God's Roadmap During Conflict
This post was originally published on November 22, 2023. I am taking some quality time with my family this week and have scheduled several re-posts for you to consider. I will return to routine posting the second week of January. Thank you to all who subscribe and recommend this Substack, including all the recent new subscribers.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me. Save me, LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush. Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. Psalm 120
I pulled out Tim Keller’s The Songs of Jesus this morning and am again inspired to share his words and the passages to which he sent me.
The psalmist seeks a peace, but those around him want only conflict with him and his faith (verse 7). This is “the resentment of one way of life against its opposite…which no amount of goodwill, short of capitulation or conversion, can resolve.” In this situation the Bible forbids either compromise (2 Corinthians 6:14ff) or retaliation (Romans 12:14-21). The psalmist leaves vengeance to God (verse 3-4), but even when believers peacefully serve their neighbors, they may attract hostility (1 Peter 2:12). So we follow our Lord, who was also a man of peace in a culture of war (1 Peter 2:21-25).
Dear God, thank you for the roadmap to follow when we find ourselves in hostility, even when we want peace. Thank you for sending us comfort and strength through your Holy Spirit and your Word. Thank you for showing us how to treat others, even in the face of adversity. Dear God, help me follow your roadmap, even in moments when it is hard. Thank you for the gift of Grace and your Son. Please give me wisdom and discernment and the strength I need to stand strong in the face of adversity. Dear God, please continue to bring comfort to the broken-hearted, wherever they are. Please continue to send the beautiful signs of the way you have been working in my life and in the lives of others. Dear God, thank you for moving me to be kind so many years ago and allowing that small event in October 2013 to continue to have ripples today. If it is your will and your time, please bring peace to Jerusalem. You know the prayers of my heart-your will be done. In your name I pray. Amen.
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:4-10
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. …
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 1 Peter 2:1-5, 11-20
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. … 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:1-2, 9-21
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18