The Power of Love in Conflict Resolution
As we navigate the complexities of human relationships, it’s easy to get caught up in feelings of anger and hatred. I know this all too well, having experienced a tumultuous fight with my brothers when I was just 12 years old. The intensity of my emotions left me shaken, and a verse from 1 John 3:15 weighed heavily on my conscience: “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
The Struggle to Choose Love
Despite my best efforts, the fighting continued in my closest relationships. I often felt overwhelmed by my anger, and I rationalized that my feelings of hatred were justified. After all, didn’t I have a right to stand up for myself and sort things out? But deep down, I knew that this approach only led to more conflict and division.
The Wisdom of Solomon
Proverbs 10:12 reminds us that “hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” This ancient wisdom is echoed in the New Testament, where 1 Peter 4:8 encourages us to “keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” These words have been a guiding light for me over the years, reminding me that love is not just a feeling, but a conscious choice.
A Turning Point
More than 50 years have passed since that fateful fight with my brothers, and I’m grateful to say that we now enjoy a strong and loving relationship. But the journey wasn’t easy. It took a profound realization, sparked by the words of author Mike Mason, to set me on the path to change: “In order to surrender, and so to put an end to fighting, one must see that it is within one’s power to consciously and prayerfully move toward love.” This simple yet profound truth helped me to see that the power to choose love and peace lies within me.
A Call to Obedience
In the end, it’s not about what I should do, but whether I will do it. Will I choose to obey God’s call to love, even when it’s hard? Will I surrender my own desires and ego to pursue peace and reconciliation? The answer, I’ve come to realize, is not just a feeling, but a deliberate act of my will.
A Prayer of Surrender
Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing to me that You will renovate my life as I obey You. Help me to choose love and peace in the face of conflict, and guide me on the path of obedience. Amen.
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