Restore and Comfort

What do we do when we have a conflict on our job? Do we seek revenge or try to humiliate the other person? What about when we have a conflict in our family? Do we try to do the same things, or perhaps, we just separate ourselves from the family member? What if we have a conflict within the church? What should we do then?

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” Two statements are fundamentally true for the believer in Jesus Christ. We demonstrate faith in Him by loving one another and living within the peace and love of God. God calls us to live in peace with one another, letting the love of Christ rule over us rather than self-centeredness that causes conflict and separates us from each other. Living within the love and peace of God we are able to restore and comfort one another.

Out With the Old, In With the New

I was thinking about what happens to our bodies when we get sick. A virus or bacteria often attacks us and is able to make us feel bad. When we go to the doctor, they prescribe some medicine or process to get rid of the attacking villain and replace it with healthy cells. Sometimes we can do the same with mental concerns and emotional issues. We get rid of the bad thoughts and replace them with new more pleasant images.

Ezekiel 36:26 says, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” God gives the new believer a new heart and a new spirit so that we can live as He desires, which is also the kind of life we truly desire as well. At times we can fall back into old sinful behaviors or thoughts. Then we need to confess those sins and allow God to bring forth the new heart and spirit that He has already given us. It will be His Spirit renewing and empowering us to live in righteousness and to bear fruit in keeping with our new hearts and spirits, thereby glorifying God.

Light of Dawn

One of my favorite things to do is to watch a sunrise, especially over some beautiful nature scenery. I watch as the sky turns from darkness to light, then the first glimmer of the sun appears turning the sky a bright orange. The light gets brighter as the sun rises on the horizon and soon the whole sky is lit up, along with daylight for all of us.

Proverbs 4:18 says, “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Walk in righteousness and God shows you the way that you should go as bright as the noon day sun. In addition, your path will shine for others to follow also.

Freedom

Old habits are hard to break. We try willpower and sometimes that works. We enlist the help of someone as an accountability type partner in the process. Sometimes we find success and sometimes we don’t. Behavioral patterns are even harder to stop. They are ingrained in us and often are difficult to even identify. Some of these patterns are sins in God’s eyes. We probably don’t want to continue to do thspese things, but seem helpless to stop.

II Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Because the Holy Spirit lives within the believer, He gives the believer power to free oneself from old habits and ways. He transforms the believer into a new kind of person, into the image of God.

What Love Can Do

When we love someone, we tend to do special things for them. Whether it is an unusual spontaneous act of kindness or a well-planned demonstration of our feelings, we spare no expense and give our greatest effort for the ones who are closest to us.

Philippians 2:1-3 says, “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, working together with one heart and purpose.” Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord become the children of God and the objects of His eternal love. We become the bride of Christ while also obtaining the inheritance of Jesus. Since we have encouragement in Christ, comfort in His love, fellowship with one another, and tender hearts through Christ, let us be truly united in love for one another. Let us spare no expense and withhold no effort in demonstrating our love for one another.