CONFLICT RESOLUTION!

 

Friday, March 27, 2026

 

CONFLICT RESOLUTION!

 

Ps 7:1

7:1 Shig-ga'-ion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

 

          The strange word at the very beginning of this verse is from the Hebrew shaagah which means “to wander.” So, this is a wandering song, a song written and sung while David is on the run from Saul. It is also a rambling song covering different subjects and made up of different parts. As we read it, we have the sense of continual interruption. David was always “bugging out!” It speaks of conflict. As for Cush the Benjamite, this probably refers to Saul himself, the son of Kish who was of the tribe of Benjamin.

 

          David had a collection of enemies, Saul, Goliath, Shimei and even his very own son, Absalom provided constant conflict in his life. For David, conflict was a way of life, and we are wise to pay attention when he speaks of it. Notice what he says when he speaks of his enemies. He pleads with the Lord to come and save him. He himself was a mighty warrior but he cries out to God for rescue. He asks God to judge between him and his enemies.

 

          A war is never quite finished until there is a clear winner and a complete surrender. So, it is with sinful us and a righteous God. Since we can’t hope to win in our conflict with God it is wise for us to surrender early and completely.

 

Eph 2:13-17

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

 

          Enmity is the Greek word echthra and literally means “the reason for opposition.” We were afar off or estranged but now we are made near because of the blood of Jesus. He has removed the very reason for opposition. He has slain the enmity so that the warring parties can be at peace.

 

Dear Lord, I sense enmity still in me. It takes me away from you and causes a separation. It is painful and bitter for me and I’m sure it is for you as well. Please come and destroy the enmity in me, the very reason for opposition. I surrender, Lord. AMEN

 

HAUNTINGS!

 

Thursday, March 26, 2026

 

HAUNTINGS!

 

2 Tim 4:14-15

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

 

          This is Paul’s second and final letter to young Timothy. It is his final communiqué recorded for us before his execution. He is in prison and making simple requests such as “please bring my coat and something to read but especially my Bible.” He is uncomfortable and alone with his thoughts. Those thoughts eventually bend toward haunting images of the past.

 

          Alexander was likely the man that the Paul was obliged to excommunicate in First Timothy 1:19 and 20 where we read “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” The memory of difficult days gone by still haunted Paul in his final days.

 

          Scars testify to us that wounds heal. Scars do not hurt us anymore unless we sit quietly and remember the trauma that caused them. Paul urged us to forget the past and focus on God’s present purpose and future blessings.

 

Phil 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: [I’ve not yet grasped what I’m reaching for] but this one thing I do, forgetting [to lose out of mind; to neglect] those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

          Are you haunted by past injuries that keep you from today’s purposes and tarnish future blessings? Begin now to intentionally “neglect” those thoughts and replace them with new ones. Paul’s final focus was his meeting with the Lord.

 

2 Tim 4:8

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

Dear Lord, replace the haunting of the past with the challenge of the present and the joy of the future. AMEN

 

SO HE MADE IT AGAIN

 

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

 

SO HE MADE IT AGAIN

 

Jer 18:3-4

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

 

1 Cor 12:14-18

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

 

          The word “marred” in Jeremiah means “ruined or spoiled.” I have lived long enough to know many people who thought their lives were spoiled by poor decisions. These people plod through life thinking that they are having to settle for God’s second best for their lives. But take a closer look at the portions of scripture selected for today.

 

          The vessel in Jeremiah was marred “in” the potter’s hand but not necessarily “by” the potter. I don’t want to press this point too much, but I think it is significant. While being fashioned by the potter’s hand something happened that caused the potter to change his mind about the design! It could never be a bowl, so He made it a cup instead … “as it hath pleased him.”

 

          As we jump to the New Testament, Paul reminds the Corinthians that there is not a favored part of the body. It is foolish to imagine an argument between the various parts as to which of them are the more important. The eye proudly states that the body would stumble in the dark without the eye. The ear argues that he is the most important because he makes it possible to hear fine music. Each part makes similar arguments, but all are mistaken. None of them have had to settle for second best. Each of them is exactly where God has placed them.

 

          Handicaps and mishaps come in various shapes and colors. Each one forces us to make adjustments in our lives. Some of them cause us to wonder if we have had to settle for God’s second best. Seriously flawed decisions have produced deep scars in some and have ruined certain plans and goals. Sometimes it is the evil actions of others that have wounded us so that we are unfit for our dreams. We tend to live the rest of our lives in disappointment.

 

          Could it be that what we think is God’s second best might be God’s original plan for us? Fanny Crosby was blinded as an infant, but she wrote hundreds of poems, songs and hymns. Joni Erickson Toda was crippled by a dive into Chesapeake Bay as a teenager but her very handicap has launched an international ministry. Our wounds define us! The potter has made us “another vessel as it has pleased him.”

 

Dear Lord, I don’t want to live the rest of my life disappointed in what I am not. I want to be glad for what you have made me. Thank you for making me exactly as it pleased you. AMEN