You’ll be able to
serve God as a peacemaker when you believe God is lovingly and powerfully
watching over you (see Psalm 32:10b)
GOD IS SOVEREIGN
Jesus trust in God’s
sovereignty (Matthew 26:42) as did Paul (2 Timothy 1:12). Sovereign means to be supreme, unlimited and
totally independent of any other influence. God alone is sovereign (Psalm
86:10) over governments (Provers 21:1), our destinies (Romans 9:15-16) and
creation (Matthew 10:29). This includes
the painful and unjust circumstances of our lives (Job 1:6-12; Amos 3:6). This
is most beautifully displayed in the gospel (Acts 2:23). John Piper said, “People lift their hand to
rebel against the Most High only to find that their rebellion is unwitting
service in the wonderful designs of God.” Yet even though God is sovereign, we
are not released of any responsibilities He calls us to fulfill.
GOD IS GOOD
God’s sovereignty is
coupled with His goodness (Psalm 62:11-12). His sovereignty is for His glory
and our good. We are not insulated from hardship or suffering just because God
is good. But He will be with us as He was with Israel (Isaiah 43:2-3). God
comforts us in suffering so we can learn to comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3-5). He
may remove problems after a while or He may leave them to show us His
sustaining grace (2 Cor. 12:7-10). God’s goodness doesn’t require He reveal to
us why He’s doing what He’s doing (Deut. 29:29). It is enough to follow His
Word. We can waste time, energy and resources trying to uncover the hidden
things of God.
THE PATH HAS BEEN
MARKED
Trusting God means
that in spite of our questions, doubts and fears we depend on His grace and
trust that He is sovereign, good and loving as He works all things for our good
and His glory (Romans 8:26-30). God was working in Joseph’s horrible
circumstances (Genesis 39:11-23; 50:19-21). Paul didn’t waste time
contemplating his release from prison. Instead he asked people to pray for the
gospel to be spread (Col. 4:3; Eph. 6:19-20). Moses saw God empower him to do God’s His will
in spite of his speech problems (Exodus 4:10-12).
TRUST IS A DECISION
Trusting God will be
difficult if you don’t believe He is sovereign and good. Some of us are bitter
towards God because in the midst of our circumstances we do not believe that He
is sovereign, good and loving. We lack inner peace and struggle to be
peacemakers because we are internally warring with a distorted understanding of
God’s nature.
SUMMARY
When we are in
conflict, we must trust that the Lord is sovereign, good and loving. We must
believe He has permitted this for His glory and our good. This will turn
problems into opportunities to make peace.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
(1).
How do you typically look at
disputes in your life?
(2). How
would your attitude change if you saw conflict as an assignment from a God who
is sovereign, good and loving?
(3). Would
struggling to see God as sovereign, loving and good impede one’s evangelistic
efforts? Would that same struggle impede
their worship of God? Explain.
(4). Read
Psalm 37 & 73. What do these psalms warn you not to do? What do they instruct you to do?
(5). How
does understanding the nature of the gospel help you to trust that God is
sovereign, good and loving?
(6). How
do you respond when God doesn’t remove your problems or conflicts right away?
(7). Do
you need to spend more time obeying God’s Word versus discovering the secret
things of God?
(8). Do
you sincerely believe God has a path marked out for you that takes conflict
into account?
(9). Are
you spending time in God’s Word so that God can shape your thinking about Him
and conflict?
(10). Is
there someone with whom you can talk to about your shortcomings and faulty
views of God?
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