WEEK THREE: LET’S CLEAR THE AIR

CONFLICT! 

Just seeing and hearing the word can send chills up and down our spines. I haven’t met very many people who enjoy conflict; most do everything they can to avoid addressing conflict altogether. But unfortunately, conflict is part of life.

Growing up in a house with two brothers, conflict was a regular part of my life. There were always the normal skirmishes that I believe come just because we were boys, but there were also the bigger ones that went from an argument to a full-on battle. They started as a simple comment (like “turn out that light”), but soon they escalated into a wrestling match (or worse, into fists flying)! Fortunately, at the end of the day we walked away a little battered, but still friends.

Conflict is inevitable. We all will come into a disagreement with someone else. Jesus himself had to deal with conflict among his followers. Luke 9:46 tells us, “An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.” Jesus didn’t condemn them for having the conversation; instead, he taught them what being the greatest looked like in God’s Kingdom. He didn’t toss the relationship aside because they didn’t understand what the mission was; he simply redirected the conversation and chose to love them despite the situation. Instead of escalating the situation by telling them how wrong they were, he gently but directly demonstrated the answer to their question.

Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional. We cannot avoid conflict. Human nature will cause us to come into disagreement with other people at times, and even if the disagreement didn’t arise from us, it will come. We don’t get that choice, but what we do get to choose is how we act or react to the conflict. So instead of reacting, choose to be proactive. Get ahead of the conflict. Deal with it quickly but also deal with it correctly. Initiate reconciliation! Waive the right for payback. Give the other person the benefit of the doubt first. Offer forgiveness. It’s our choice. Let’s choose the right way.