13
Feb '25
Resolving Issues
13
Feb '25
Introduction: Do you have a plan for resolving issues? Are there certain guidelines to go by when you are facing a conflict? In this devotion, we will look at how the Lord resolved this difference between two CHRISTians, actually leaders.
1. Peter had a lapse back! (Gal. 2:11) – “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”
What happened to Peter? Even though he was converted to Jesus, he soon discovered the battle of the flesh vs. the Spirit. Surprisingly, as he was caught off guard, he reverted back to the old Judaism tradition of righteousness. But using wisdom, gentleness, and yet decisiveness, Paul loved him enough to correct his error.
Question: Do you sometimes lapse back to the dictates of the flesh? Secondly, do you know any CHRISTians that may have slipped into a similar pattern? How should you handle it?
2. Paul lovingly confronted him about the situation! (Gal. 2:12, 13, 14) – “For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”
Can you see what happened? On the one hand, Peter, as it were, ate ham—being a Jew—with the Gentiles without any wrong feelings. He was free from the law by being justified through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. However, when his Jewish friends arrived, he caved into their old way of religion, which was abstaining from certain foods, etc.
Please note that while it was made clear from the Jerusalem council that Jews could still practice that law or custom, they were not to infringe on the Gentiles by demanding they do the same. Remember, even though you have freedom to do certain things, it may create a stumbling block for a weaker CHRISTian.
Conclusion: Being a stumbling block can happen at a moment’s notice; i.e., going to see a movie, buying certain items at the grocery store, using a dirty joke, etc. Therefore, we must conclude that whether we are lovingly correcting a brother or sister or we ourselves needing correction, it should be done with the motive of restoring one another while examining ourselves with humility. Jesus is our role model and the Holy Spirit our enabler.
Which are you at the moment?
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese