Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Unresolved Conflict
Weekend Music links on iTunes: The Time Has Come, Let God Arise, Strong Tower, Come Thou Fount
Read: Isiah 61:11; Luke 8:4-8; Psalm 24:4-5
Think: After the sermon this week I began to think of examples and instances where unresolved conflict controlled my life. In looking back I noticed a pattern. A pattern whereby the unresolved conflict seemed to grow larger and scarier with each passing day. Much like a weed growing uncontrollably in my garden and ultimately overtaking the fruits and vegetables that help sustain life.
What really surprised me was just how long some of these unresolved conflicts went unresolved. In looking back, I see long periods of weeds growing rampantly in my life and no doubt choking off much of the joy that the Lord had intended for me. God knew what the consequences were of our anger and it is why He instructs us to “not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” While we are sleeping on our anger, the weeds are growing and multiplying in the garden.
Ben asked a key question this weekend; are my motives pure? I have to admit that on occasion my motive to confront someone or something is driven by a selfish desire to be “right”. Have you ever confronted someone with this motive in mind? After confronting them how often did you walk away with the conflict resolved, or did it create even a larger chasm than before? If your experiences are similar to mine, it rarely if ever resulted in true resolution. Had I asked God to search my heart and reveal my motives, I would have resolved these conflicts right then and there, as the only one I really needed to confront was me, myself and I !
God desires to plant His seeds upon good soil, and we must be diligent about fending off the areas of our life that can harden our hearts and rob us of His joy and His fruit. He loves us more than we can know.
Do: Take an inventory today. Look back at unresolved conflict in your life. How has it influenced you? Do you have any unresolved conflict today? What do you need to do to develop a rich soil for planting in your life? Ask the Lord to examine your heart and lead you into His righteousness.
Pray: Heavenly Father You know my heart and my mind. Examine my heart and convict me where my motives are impure. Help me to address a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a team mate as You would, speaking the truth in love. In Jesus name. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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