SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC - PEACE-MAKING PROCEDURE
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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Tuesday, September 21, 2021. - International Day of Peace
PEACE-MAKING PROCEDURE
Read: Matthew 17:15 - 20
Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
MEMORIZE:
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
EXPOSITION
Generally, the world lacks peace, though today is set aside to commemorates International Day of Peace, the world has rejected the Prince of Peace. There is virtually no country without its own fair share of conflict, acrimony and crisis. Unfortunately, the church is affected too. God is not the author of these. Satan is the one masterminding the religious, economic, social and political tumults everywhere around the world. Nevertheless, as believers in Christ, we are expected to follow peace with all men. Peacekeeping requires conscious effort. Do all you can to be a peace broker. Jesus has given us some steps to follow for conflict resolution among brethren.
1. Getting the offender to know: Jesus Christ requires that the person who has offered you to made to know his/her offence. This you should do between two of you alone. Don't bring in any thing party yet.
2. If the person fails to see reasons he/she should apologise, then involve a third party who should be spiritual and scripture in their approaches in order not to aggravate the issue.
3. Should the situation persist, the church council should intervene. The church leaders should use godly wisdom in resolving the matter. Like the early church leaders nipped a teething problem in the bud (Acts 6v1ff), leaders must not fold their arms and watch abnormalities triving.
Having exhausted the aforementioned with sincerity and transparency, if the individual still remains obstinate, you are left with no option than to be praying for the non-bulging offender as you would do to an infidel. Don't neglect him/her, especially in prayers, even if the person remains unyielding. That is practical Christinity. It is not fire for fire in this case; it is water for fire! Fire cannot quench fire. May God asissit you.
PRAYER POINTS
1. O Lord, make me a person of peace in all my conversations.
2. I refuse to be a stumbling block and source of trouble in any situations, in Jesus name.
3. Lord, restore Your peace among us in our churches and nation.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Proverbs 11:31 - 14:9, 2 Cor 7:15 - 8:30
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
September 21, 2021
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