Reflect
Today’s passage reveals the brutality that surfaces during a transition of power. Over the next few days, we’ll see that it gets worse, far worse, before it gets better. Buckle up as these next few days will be challenging. I once heard someone say, “Conflict is like a fire; it can burn and ravage, or it can light up the darkness”. God’s chosen people are experiencing the effects of years of conflict, and the players all have long memories. Not dealing with conflict in a godly manner can be delayed, but the repercussions are always intensified. Passive avoidance and aggressive action are equally sinful responses to conflict. The corrupt actions of the ‘Joabs’ and ‘Abners’ in life are easy to identify, but take a moment and see also how the ways of the ‘Ish-Bosheths’ in life contribute to broken community. What is an area of conflict that you are affected by? Where on the spectrum between passive avoidance and aggressive action do you land? How is your input into that situation advancing a healthy resolution? Pray that the Lord would cause you to be merciful, positive, not reactive to criticism, rooted in hope and honest with what your contribution to the conflict is.
Pastor Dan
Pray
Nick and Iris - NAB East Asia. Nick and Iris serve in a closed East Asia country. Our ministries focus on university student outreach and evangelism. God also leads us to partner with a national church. Besides pastoring the congregation, the marriage enrichment ministry and divorce care ministry are particularly rewarding. In the summer, several camps are organized to outreach left behind children who are left in the villages by parents. God also leads us to extend His Kingdom in an outreach ministry to a minority ethnic group. Pray for a huge number of left-behind children. Pray for more NAB co-workers to join us on the field. Internet access to many websites are blocked on the field. Please pray that our communication with supporting friends in North America would not be hindered. Pray for our health due to severe air pollution.