Let’s face it! We do NOT see suffering as God sees it. For instance, in regards to Jesus, the writer to Hebrews says (Heb. 5:7–9): “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

Introduction: Dealing and resolving disagreements is inevitable. Parenting, marriages, and even friendships have conflict. How should we resolve our disagreements?

Today’s devotion offers a few suggestions. This is certainly not exhaustive due to space. Yet, hopefully it will help some who read it.

1. We must understand that we see things differently at times! (Rom. 14:1-9) – “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” 

The Church of Rome was comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, which included different backgrounds, convictions, and goals. Therefore, conflict was bound to happen.  And so it is with relationships today. 

2. We must not be quick to judge or criticize each other! (Rom. 14:10-12) – “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” 

When our idea or way is not accepted, then it is easy to become critical and judgmental.

3. We can become a stumbling block and not realize it! (Rom. 14:13) – “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” 

Our attitude and actions – reaction can present a stumbling block to others. In turn, others trip and fall instead of being lifted up. 

4. We need to give others room to grow! (Rom. 14:1-3) – “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” 

Everyone is not at the same level in their walk with Jesus. Be sensitive to that. Be patient with them. Let the Holy Spirit work in them. Help facilitate the growth process. God will be glorified.

Conclusion: While this is in a Church setting, these principles can be personalized in friendships and marriage, as well as parenting.

Think about where you have conflict. How should it be resolved? Look back over these points and pray about where you are and what our Lord would have you to do.

1. Will you throw out the anchor because you are drifting in life with things OUT of CONTROL? (Heb. 6:17) – “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.”

First, look at the word “heirs.” It is κληρονόμος, which means a sharer by lot, i.e. an inheritor. It can mean a possessor. In other words, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then you are an inheritor! He has promised.

2. Will you throw out an anchor as you drift in life because there are some things you can CONTROL? (Heb. 6:18) – “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.”

3. Will you throw out an anchor in life because as you are drifting in life, remember JESUS CHRIST is in CONTROL? (Heb. 6:19) – “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.”

1. The Living Word used the written Word while fasting against the devil! (Matt 4:3,4,7,10) – “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.”

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

2. The Living Word used the written Word to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil while fasting! (Matt 4: 6-7) – “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

3. The Living Word through the written Word becomes the fleshed out Word by Fasting! (Matt 4:8-11) – “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”

They saw it from a distance. They embraced it with great joy. They pursued it unwaveringly. Their trust in their dying Savior Jesus Christ was settled. Their hope was steadfast in the resurrection. Their gaze was set in His promise to return! They clearly understood their PURPOSE, their POWER, and His PRESENCE.

What did they possess that we desperately need today? The writer to the book of Hebrews plainly explains their unrelenting faith. 

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (Heb. 11:32–38)

These did not FLINCH in the face of ADVERSITY, nor back away in the pool of MEDIOCRITY, but pressed onward with great TENACITY!

“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39–40)

By the way, the word perfect is τελειόω, which means accomplished, finished, or to fulfill. In other words, Heb. 11:13 sums it up: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

1. Paul was incarcerated but he was not incapacitated! (Phil. 4:22) – “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.”

Paul overcame his obstacles and turned them into opportunities. That is, he was able to WITNESS the love of Jesus Christ to some of the household of Caesar. No doubt that included soldiers, politicians, and others listed in Romans chapter sixteen. He clearly understood that God’s providential hand was leading in that opportunity. He wrote explaining that very thing: “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel.” (Phil. 1:12)

Take a moment to ponder where our Lord is opening doors of opportunity for you. Will you walk through them? Instead of “whining,” how about “shining”?

Others were walking free but shackled in bondage until they met Jesus Christ, Who set them free!

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.” (Philemon 1:10–11)

Do you know where Onesimus met Paul? It was in Rome, while he was confined in prison—but really free as a bird! By the way, Onesimus was really the one in chains—chains which were attached to the deadly disease called sin, which leads to eternal death (Rom. 6:23). You see, he had done his master (boss), Philemon, wrongly. Perhaps he stole from him—we are not exactly sure what he did—but nevertheless, he was weighed down with guilt and condemnation, needing relief.

Can you relate? That is when he and Paul crossed paths and he experienced a glorious conversion to Jesus Christ. Afterwards, and upon Paul’s mediating, he made restitution with Philemon. What a radical transformation took place! God was glorified!

1. Back to the passage of Scripture in Galatians:
As you know, the book of Galatians was written by Paul, who was inspired by God to explain the subject of JUSTIFICATION—evidently, there were many FALSE teachers in the Churches, like today, misleading people concerning what it meant to be saved, plus even after being saved.

Keep in mind, the Church had been established at Pentecost (Acts 2), but many JEWS were being saved along with many GENTILES. It was creating problems because the Jews were telling & teaching that the Gentiles had to KEEP the Jewish LAWS {613 or more} plus do the Jewish ceremonies, etc., in order to be saved, JUSTIFIED {that was legalism—like today some think they can be saved by good works}.

To refute this nonsense, Paul is led by the Holy Spirit to clarify the difference in the two groups {Jews and Gentiles} and their relation to the Church {those Jews who were alive at that time—however, many had died before Jesus Christ was crucified and raised from the dead—what do you think God is going to do with them? That’s another subject, but He has a plan for them according to the Old Testament}. But once Jesus Christ died for our sins and arose from the grave, they all {Jews—Gentiles} could be justified and placed into the Church. That is the same message and purpose for God the Holy Spirit writing the book of Romans, Corinthians, etc.—Jews and Gentiles could be saved and justified without legalistic means.

2. Take a closer look at what Paul wrote in Gal. 3:29.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Many who embrace Replacement theology say, “Abraham’s seed was the Church.” {The Physical seed of Abraham—in other words, we, the Church, replaces Israel.}

That is incorrect—the Church is the “SPIRITUAL SEED” of ABRAHAM! That is, we BELIEVE God by FAITH and are JUSTIFIED before God {like Abraham was justified by his faith; see Rom. 4, James 2, etc.}. That is what Paul meant! Again, that is the PURPOSE of this letter {Galatians} to verify that we, the Church, are like Abraham & the Jews {as we believe God by faith in Jesus Christ’s redeeming blood} even as they offered BLOOD as sacrifices—they obeyed what God told them to do—thus, they were justified {by faith—taking God at His Word}. Today, we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ and are justified (Rom. 5:1).

In the light of all of this just stated {justified by faith}, it does not negate the UNCONDITIONAL COVENANTS that God made in the Old TESTAMENT with ISRAEL before Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Also, another problem is that some of those who interpret the Bible that way {replacement theology—the Church replaces Israel} deny the LITERAL MILLENNIUM reign of Christ {it is called preterism}. They say we are now living in the KINGDOM & deny Rev. 20 as literal. {They say we—the Church—are building the Kingdom.} That is “KINGDOM NOW theology” that is so prevalent in the Christian world. {This writer used to think this way before really doing a thorough study on the subject}. But the literal KINGDOM of God, according to the Bible, will take place when the KING—JESUS {Rev. 19:15,16}—comes to this earth to set up His earthly KINGDOM {Government—Isa. 9:6,7; Dan. 7:14; 1 Cor. 15:24,25; Luke 1:32,33}.

1. CALVINISTIC – COVENANT Theology – REFORMED Theology or otherwise called REPLACEMENT Theology {The Church replaces Israel} is very prominent today.
Granted, some Calvinism {Covenant Theology} is good mainly concerning the doctrine of “soteriology” {how to be saved}, but when it comes to Bible Prophecy – “eschatology” {end time}, which is studied in only a few seminaries, colleges, and Churches – there are some concerning problems.

Actually, it’s been my experience with talking with graduates and Christians from those institutions that probably very few have really studied in great depth on this subject, namely Bible Prophecy, which includes both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament; more specifically, checking out what God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob along with the Jewish people.

2. This devotion will be sharing some personal information but with a desire to be teachable and humble, because we are all still learning (this writer included). For this reason, our Lord led this Pastor {student} to pursue both a Master’s degree and a PhD in the specific subject of eschatology, Bible Prophecy {it took 5 years of study there, plus 12 other years working on BA, 2 other Master’s degrees, and a Doctor of Ministry—all that means really is I’ve been in school a LONG TIME!! But still do NOT know it all!}

3. One’s hermeneutics {interpretation method} when it comes to studying about “eschatology” end time {both Old Testament & New} is extremely important. That is where one of the problems exist. Instead of approaching the Bible to make it fit in our system {so often as Calvinism – replacement theology – the Church replaces many of the promises God gave to them}, the proper approach is to take the Scriptures LITERALLY. And where apocalyptic literature is used, follow the proper method to interpret it as well.

Those who hold the Calvinist approach {replacement theology – Covenant Theology} while interpreting the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, would use the ALLEGORICAL method—not the LITERAL method. The allegorical way is trying to read more into the Scriptures with a mystical meaning instead of reading it as it is written, literally {remember the best way is the Literal method}. For example, their method claims we the Church – (Gal. 3:29) – replace God’s unconditional covenant with Abraham. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Check out the word “SEED.” What does it mean? Spiritual or physical?

To be continued….

1. When you feel stressed we have a Place of SAFETY in Jesus! (Psa 46:1) – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

2. When you feel stressed we have a Place of SAFETY in Jesus even though we live in a world of UNCERTAINTY! (Psa 46:2-3) – “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

3. When you feel stressed we have a Place of SAFETY in Jesus even though we live in a world of UNCERTAINTY because of God’s SOVEREIGNTY! (Psa 46:4-5) – “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.”

Introduction: How is our faith in Jesus being refined? Can you tell? Check out the following progression. 

1. Faith Defined! (Heb. 11:1) – “Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is based on believing God’s Word. Simply put, it is taking our Lord at His Word. There is saving faith, living faith, and dying faith. Do we really exercise trust in the Lord? Even through the fires of affliction, is our dependence upon Him?

2. Faith Refined! (1Pet. 1:6-7) – “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

In order for our Faith in Jesus to grow, it must be refined on a continuous basis….from glory to glory. Is your faith in Jesus being tested right now? What should you do? 

Answer: Let the Master Potter….mold and make you after His will. 

In the crucible, our faith is being purified. That is what Peter is teaching. So now, is your faith being purified?

3. Faith Designed! (Rom. 4:19-21) – “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

In God’s economy, the element of faith is the key that unlocks heaven’s blessings. Will you unlock the door?

Conclusion: While this is simple, yet it is profound – Faith is the victory – from root to fruit. So is your faith in Jesus growing or shrinking through the fires? It is meant to be enlarged.

Once we step back and see the big picture, then we can cooperate as our faith is being refined through the furnace of affliction.