PEACE - Champions by the Fruit of the SpiritSample

Peace vs. Discord

Bible story: Turn the other cheek "Matthew 5:38-42"

Theme Verse: Romans: 12:18

As we are looking at how to have peace in our lives this month, we cannot avoid the topic of discord. When people disagree or argue, it is discord. The New Testament church had fighting, just as we have discord in churches all around the world today. However, God asks us to live at peace with one another. This is very difficult to do. As humans, we are constantly getting

into fights and having discord amongst ourselves. Maybe it is because we all have strong opinions. We know what God wants of us. We often judge each other, and fight to get our own way. However, our fight should be against the devil and sin, not against our brothers in Christ.

In today's Bible story, Jesus gives us instructions on how to avoid discord. Jesus tells us that if someone strikes us on one cheek, we should turn and offer the other cheek! This means that we do not defend ourselves from those who are hitting us, but that we also do not worry about future offenses from them! This is so contrary to how we live today, even in our Christian churches. We always want to defend ourselves from others, and if someone strikes us on one cheek, we make sure it does not happen again.

Jesus instructs us that if someone wants to take us to court for something, we should just let him or her do it. In addition, Paul has given us the same advice that Jesus did.

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about maturity. When we are baby Christians, we are not mature. In this passage, he says the quarreling amongst the brothers is what is causing them to stay immature. Later in chapter 6, Paul says the Christians needed public lawsuits to settle their disputes. How embarrassing that would have been for everyone!

What are we supposed to do when someone wrongs us? What if we have done nothing wrong, but someone is judging us and accusing us of wrong in front of others? Paul gives us the answer we would rather not hear in 1 Corinthians 6:7-8: "The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters."

If we want to be spiritually mature and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, we must live at peace with others. We must stop judging, criticizing, and arguing amongst ourselves. When we are wronged, like Paul said, we should just be wronged! There is no need to defend ourselves. Let others cheat you, slander you, and strike you. When we can accomplish this, we will have peace.

Questions:

1. Do we have to be friends with everyone?

2. Can Christians go to court?

3. Do Christians get into fights?

Life Application:

Allow yourself to be wronged once this week. (It will most likely happen on its own.) Your assignment is to do nothing.