#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 15/10/2017
Quarter’s Theme: CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE CHURCH
UNIT 2 – Preventing Conflict In The Church (Lessons 4-7)
LOYALTY CAMPAIGN MONTHS
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 65, 160
Devotional Reading: 1 COR. 12:12-27
Topic For Adults
YOU ARE UNIQUE
Topic For Youths
GOD FASHIONED US INDIVIDUALLY
Topic For Intermediates
DISPLAY RIGHT ATTITUDE
Lesson Scriptures
1 PET. 2:12-17; EPH. 4:1-5; JUDG. 7:24; 8:1-3; 12:1-6
15/10/2017 LESSON 7
CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL TRAITS
MEMORY VERSE
Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king (1 Pet. 2:17) NKJV
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 15/10/2017
The Importance Of Character
Prov. 12:22
George Jones started out as a clerk in a store and quickly gained reputation for his work ethic. The thing people noticed about George was his character. He exemplified the principle, “lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight”. This man’s character brought him to the attention of one renowned journalist, Henry J. Raymond. They became friends and together they started the New York Times. Years later Jones won an award that settled him for the rest of his life. Nothing is more important than your character. No matter the kind of person you really are, once you lose your character, you’ve lost everything. And one more thought: if you always do the right thing you will never have to worry about remembering what you did!
Point of Emphasis: Those who deal truthfully are His delight.
Prayer Point: Lord, give me the grace to be truthful.
BACKGROUND
Some Christians wonder why some brethren behave the way they do and respond to issues. Some have even been accused of not being born-again because of their characters. Each of us has our weakness which we must work upon and develop our area of strength for the expansion of God’s kingdom. Because of our differences, sometimes we find it difficult to get along with each other. This lesson aims at teaching us how we can relate with each other amicably rather than becoming worried about the differences in our personality trait, which makes us act in a way.
NOTES ON THE TEXT
PART 1: WORK TO FOSTER UNITY (1 PET. 2:12-17; EPH. 4:1-5)
The focus of Peter and Paul the Apostle from the portion read is to work as team builders in order to foster unity despite their diversity. In 1 Peter 2:12, Peter encourages the believers to let their conversation be honest, good, decent, and devoid of evil report because they live among unbelievers. The effects of this will encourage unbeliever into Christianity.
Christians are required to submit and respect those in authority. Believers should know that God chooses the leaders for the good of the society to reward and punish as well. Though Christians have been set at liberty but not from the duty of obedience to God’s law.
Paul was a prisoner in Rome as at the time he wrote this general exhortation to the Ephesian Christians to walk worthy of their profession. Though in bonds, he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (v. 11) He encourages Christians to be humble, gentle, patient, accept each other and maintain the unity that the spirit of Christ gives (vv. 2-3). As there is one body and one spirit, we are to share one hope, Lord, faith and baptism (vv. 4-5)
As you desire a kind of character, in other Christians, develop such in your life to foster unity in faith despite our diverse personality traits.
PART 2: ACCEPT INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES (JUDG. 7:24; 8:1-3)
Christians fights themselves over matters that could have been resolved amicably because they give room for the flesh, ego, envy and personal interest. These evils are responsible for most of the negative things happening in the church today.
In our text, Gideon was used by God to defeat the Midianites. He ought to be appreciated but it was criticism that trailed his victory. The men of Ephraim felt they were left out because Gideon did not invite them to the battle. At times, people criticize out of envy. Gideon tactically handled the provocation by the Ephramites. A conversation made during conflict resolution should be free of bitterness and resentment. Instead of Gideon responding nega-tively to the criticism, he pointed out the significant contribution his critics had made to the victory (Judg. 8:2-3).
PART 3: FOREGO JUSTIFICATION OF RIGHT (JUDG. 12:1-6)
The Ephramites were again upset because Jephthah did not call them for assistance against the Ammonites so that they might share in the victory and spoils of the war (v. 1), even though there was no justification for their action. Jephthah did not have the meekness and quietness of Gideon (Judg. 8:1-3) he therefore answered them rashly. Instead of a just and soft answer, he defended himself with the use of sword and taunted them with foul language.
Anger which led to wanton destruction of life could have been averted if the Ephramites had done away with envy and jealousy are like bone-cancer which invade a healthy spirit, poisoning lives and destroying the peace which God wants believers to enjoy.
To resolve conflict amicably, Christians must stop the growth of destructive jealousy. We must exercise self-control even if it demands forfeiting our so called rights at times for peace to reign.
CONCLUSION
Christians are duty bound to know what makes others different from them, act the way they do and seek to live harmoniously without unnecessary provocation. We must learn to tolerate each other because we are all differently made.
QUESTIONS
- What should every believer realise about our personality trait?
- What were the things Peter told believers to do in 1 Pet. 2:12?
- Mention the things Paul admoni-shed believers to do according to Ephesians 4:1-5
- Explain the phrase, ‘individual difference’.
- Why did Jephthah fail to prevent the strife between him and the Ephramites?
