When the Tent of Unity Disappears - Martin Wiles

And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. Philippians 4:2 NLT

“Sometimes, the circus is larger than the tent.”

My wife and I were mingling with a few church friends at one of the local funeral homes when I heard the remark. Why the subject of people not getting along came up, I’m not sure, but the statement holds so much truth and is similar to a more well-known quote: “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”

As we talked, my wife contended that women are more likely to be contentious than men. Perhaps Paul would agree. He had two he could shove forward as examples. One gentleman disagreed. He worked with nothing but men and had several stories to tell about their contentiousness. Truthfully, the circus houses both.

Like Paul, I once knew two women who were church members and couldn’t get along. Both were strong-willed and enjoyed being in control. While one was more humble than the other and typically gave in, their disagreements always created a strong undercurrent in their relationship and also had a ripple effect in the church.

When the circus becomes larger than the tent, we forget several things. Believers are unified in Christ. This doesn’t mean we are clones, but we have a common bond—our belief in Christ and in the work he has given us. Remembering we share this bond with other believers should make us work harder to put aside what divides us from them and look harder at what attaches us to them.

Just because believers share a common faith doesn’t mean we share the same personalities. Obviously, Eudoia and Syntyche didn’t, and neither did the two ladies I worked with. I’ve discovered, though, that we can disagree without being contentious. Common ground always presents itself if we look.

The faith journey we're on isn’t all about us. It’s about our faithfulness to God and his Kingdom’s work. Our responsibility is to promote Christ, not ourselves or our selfish ideas. Our testimony, and the testimony of God’s church, lies at stake. And if the disagreement is such that we honestly can’t see a way to solve it, we can always find another church rather than ruin the reputation of the one we're attending.

Do what it takes to make the circus smaller than the tent. God wants his people unified in love. 

Father, help me love others in a bond of unity so my testimony before others will shine brightly. 

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Direction Changed, Mind Not - Martin Wiles

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. Jonah 4:1 NLT

“A person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still.” A perfect example of direction changed, mind not.

And Ron was. He was a charter church member and had seen many preachers come and go. This new one had come in like a whirlwind and changed everything. He made the church do things they’d never done before and in unfamiliar ways. Quite a few members had left. No new preacher was going to run him off, though. He reluctantly followed most of the changes, despite his heart not being in it. And he took every opportunity to create discord along the way.

Jonah wasn’t much different than Ron. God told him to go in a direction he had no interest in. Nineveh was full of wickedness and enemies. Why should he want God to pardon them? Unlike Ron, he didn’t hang around. He took a boat going in the opposite direction.

But God showed up as a big fish that swallowed Jonah whole. Amongst the seaweed and undigested marine life, Jonah decided to change directions. Shriveled and smelly, he strolled into the city and yelled, “Repent.” They did, but Jonah rewarded God’s grace with anger. He changed directions, but his heart didn’t.

Peer pressure, guilt, regret, and ulterior motives can all convince us to change directions. After all, if everyone else is doing it, maybe we should also. If we’ve wronged someone in the past, perhaps we should help them before it’s too late. And maybe the change is worth it if we can see our name in lights. Ron and Jonah were convinced to go in the right direction but for the wrong reason.

I’ve gone in the right direction for the wrong reason myself. When I do, there’s always a battle inside my heart, along with dissatisfaction. The only cure is to go in the right direction for the right reason. And the only way we can do this is through repentance and heartfelt sorrow for our actions or attitude. Then we can accept what God sends our way or calls us to do with the right spirit.

God’s way is always best; we simply have to believe it. And hopefully, it won’t require a stint in a whale’s belly.

How can you sync your heart with the direction you’re traveling?

Father, as we travel the way You’re leading us, help us to go with a willing heart and for the right reasons. 

Tweetable: Is your mind traveling in the same direction as you? 

   

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Walk-on Wednesday - Blessed by Being Blessed Out - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. Luke 6:22 NLT

As the pastor, Jack had no input in the decision other than to give his consent to what the church leaders felt was a good decision.

Don, on the other hand, didn’t see it that way. He had taken a new position in the church, but now he felt his honor was being attacked by the church leaders’ decision. Even though it just made good business sense to do what the leaders initiated, he received it as an affront to his credibility.

Since the leaders who made the decision were longtime friends, the pastor became the object of his anger. Don thought he should have stopped the decision. After all, he was the pastor. But he hadn’t. From that moment on, he lashed out at his leader in public and private. He didn’t hold back in letting him know how he felt about the decision and what he felt about him as a leader.

This verse falls in the middle of others referred to as the Beatitudes—Latin for “blessing.” What Jesus proposes, however, appears illogical. When others hate me, I should be happy? When I’m left out, I should be glad? And when others curse me, I should throw a party? Countercultural actions for sure. Actions that would definitely make others sit up and notice. How in the world could I receive a blessing from being blessed out?

Only with a proper view of circumstances can a blessing out by others give birth to a blessing. The offended church member wasn't really mad at the pastor. His self-image was at stake, so he used what psychologists call displacement—directing anger at a neutral subject or item.

When we identify with Christ, opposition will arise from various and sometimes surprising sources. Joy is possible, however. While there is no merit in suffering for doing something wrong, there is comfort when we suffer for a good cause: the name of Christ.

Learn to count it a joy when others revile you because you stand for Christ.

Prayer: Father, for the joy of suffering for your Kingdom, we thank You.

Tweetable: How do you handle the blessing outs? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.