God says, “Vengeance is mine.” In 2 Sam 3, we read the intense rivalry between Abner and Joab. Abner killed Joab’s brother Asahel in battle. When Abner decided to help King David unite the kingdom, Joab murdered him.
King David was working with Abner to unite the kingdom. We saw the desire for peace and reconciliation. Did Joab care? Nope. His personal vendetta took precedence. This man kill my brother and he must die for it.
Pursue Peace instead of Confrontation. As shared before, as much as possible, pursue peace and reconciliation. Look for opportunities to bridge divides, to forgive past hurts, and to work towards unity. Look at the big picture instead of taking everything personally.
Trust God’s Sovereignty. Things may not look well. Thing may seem to get worse by the day. There are some that seems to be able to find fault in everything, socks, shoes, watermelon, corporate logos, and even the anatomy of a fish. Trust in God. He is in charge. Nothing and no one can thwart his plans. The battle has been won.
Blessed are the Peacemakers. As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers. Rather than stepping back to “enjoy” the fight in front of us, do what we can to maintain peace. Grace and forgiveness we received from God. Extend them to others. Seek understanding instead of passing judgement immediately. Try to foster harmony in our community and relationships.
When was the last time you witnessed a conflict? When was the last time you were embroiled in a conflict? How did you react? What did you do? Did you escalate it or de-escalate it? Did God figure in your resolution? Or did you take care of things on your own?
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