A GOOD SOLUTION OR A GOD SOLUTION
DAY 130 When there is a problem, there is usually a right way solve it and there is a wrong way. It is human nature to assume the right way is our way and the wrong way is anything else. The problem with that theory is that it generally leads to discord and broken relationships. What we really need is a God solution.
Today I witnessed two great examples of problem solving; one written in the pages of scripture and one living out the precepts of scripture.
As a matter of principal I am usually averse to activities that induce sweat. This week, however, I made an exception to be part of our church's mission outreach to our own town. Deployed in work groups, members of our church took on ten projects in town to meet the needs of individuals from our community. My assignment was at the home of an elderly women whose house was literally beginning to fall down around her. Our team descended on her 1930s house en mass to paint, repair, rebuild and beautify. Marie, who has lived in that house for 70 years, was so excited that God sent her and army of helping angels. Her neighbors, it turns out, were not so thrilled. Well, one neighbor was not happy. When the police arrived in answer to a complaint that our team was clogging traffic on the small neighborhood street, poor Marie was beside herself. She could not imagine who would be so mean as to complain about a group who came to help.
For our part, it was an easy fix. We just needed to park our cars on one side of the road only to allow traffic (which there was none) to pass easily. We thanked the officer and went on with our work. Marie, unknown to us, was still very upset and called one of her neighbors in tears. About an hour later, while my friend and I were painting the front porch, that neighbor came to see us. Her name was Shirley. And this is what she said:
"I just wanted to come and meet you all and thank you for what you are doing for Marie. I have thanked God everyday that you are here. It is such a blessing what you are doing for her. She is really upset that someone would call the police when you have come to serve. But I told her that you are good soldiers of Christ and that you would not be distracted or angry, or let the enemy Satan come in here and distract you. I don't know who called the police, but I have prayed for them. But as for us, we will keep our eyes of Jesus. And now, I want to pray for you and the good work you are doing for Christ."
That dear woman prayed offering up praise and worship to our Holy God, reminding us to keep our eyes on Him, thanking Him for His goodness, asking for His will, and His strength to keep peace and unity as we work together. She even prayed God would send us a breeze to cool the sweltering afternoon - which He did at the very moment she prayed it.
When a conflict presented itself, Shirley showed us how to find a solution - Godly communication, that is communicating in a way that keeps God at the center of the issues. It is the same principal that Paul and Baranabas followed when they encountered a problem while serving the growing church in Antioch.
Acts 15: 1-2 ...some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved."
Paul and Barnabas disagreed strongly and needed a resolution. So they opted to seek out clarity and support.
Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.
Like our new friend Shirley, in confronting the issue, they kept the focus on "everything God had done" in reaching the Gentiles. They talked. They debated. They explored. But in all their efforts to come to a resolution, their communication stayed centered on God, His goodness, His work, His Word and His will. For them, the breeze of the Holy Spirit blew through their meeting and brought a resolution. Paul and Barnabas could leave that place with both their relationships and their reputations in tact because of how they chose to relate to thier brothers with Godly communication.
But not only them:
Day 130 of 365
2 Kings 4:18-44
2 Kings 5
Acts 15:1-35
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23
Today I witnessed two great examples of problem solving; one written in the pages of scripture and one living out the precepts of scripture.
For our part, it was an easy fix. We just needed to park our cars on one side of the road only to allow traffic (which there was none) to pass easily. We thanked the officer and went on with our work. Marie, unknown to us, was still very upset and called one of her neighbors in tears. About an hour later, while my friend and I were painting the front porch, that neighbor came to see us. Her name was Shirley. And this is what she said:
"I just wanted to come and meet you all and thank you for what you are doing for Marie. I have thanked God everyday that you are here. It is such a blessing what you are doing for her. She is really upset that someone would call the police when you have come to serve. But I told her that you are good soldiers of Christ and that you would not be distracted or angry, or let the enemy Satan come in here and distract you. I don't know who called the police, but I have prayed for them. But as for us, we will keep our eyes of Jesus. And now, I want to pray for you and the good work you are doing for Christ."
That dear woman prayed offering up praise and worship to our Holy God, reminding us to keep our eyes on Him, thanking Him for His goodness, asking for His will, and His strength to keep peace and unity as we work together. She even prayed God would send us a breeze to cool the sweltering afternoon - which He did at the very moment she prayed it.
When a conflict presented itself, Shirley showed us how to find a solution - Godly communication, that is communicating in a way that keeps God at the center of the issues. It is the same principal that Paul and Baranabas followed when they encountered a problem while serving the growing church in Antioch.
Acts 15: 1-2 ...some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved."
Paul and Barnabas disagreed strongly and needed a resolution. So they opted to seek out clarity and support.
Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.
Like our new friend Shirley, in confronting the issue, they kept the focus on "everything God had done" in reaching the Gentiles. They talked. They debated. They explored. But in all their efforts to come to a resolution, their communication stayed centered on God, His goodness, His work, His Word and His will. For them, the breeze of the Holy Spirit blew through their meeting and brought a resolution. Paul and Barnabas could leave that place with both their relationships and their reputations in tact because of how they chose to relate to thier brothers with Godly communication.
But not only them:
30 The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.
Through Shirley and Paul and Barnabas, God reminded me that when there is a problem, there is a right way to solve it, a wrong way to solve it and then there is His way to solve it. His way always honors His name, respects His people and puts His will first. That is a God solution.
Day 130 of 365
2 Kings 4:18-44
2 Kings 5
Acts 15:1-35
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23
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