Thursday; February 22

One of the most difficult things for most of us is confrontation. Some of you feel very comfortable challenging people, but a lot of us are more than willing to let hard feelings go uncorrected. The problem with this is that when we don’t deal with conflict it has a tendency to fester. Not only does it tend to become intense, it also becomes more deeply rooted in our relationships with others.

Typically, when we think of confrontation, we envision going to someone who has offended us and dealing what they have done. However, the Bible reminds us there is another type of confrontation. Jesus addressed this situation when He said, “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” (Matthew 5:23-24). In essence, when we become aware that someone has a problem with us, we have a responsibility to go to them and try to resolve the issue. We can’t just sit back and say, “If they don’t like me or what I have done, they can came to me.”; rather, if we know there is an issue, we need to find a way to make it right. Conflict creates crisis and may be best solved with confrontation. If we hope to have good will, it is up to us to take the initiative to seek resolution.

Do you know of someone who has an issue with you? Is it time to clear the air?

Think About It!

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