Pain and Glory in the Church

How can we handle conflicts in the church and be peacemakers to the glory of God? In this video, Joel Beeke offers some practical ways to strive for unity and peace, even in the midst of strained relationships. The first step is to pray for peace and for those who disagree with us. Prayer can soften our hearts and help us to see others as God sees them. The second step is to remember that we are called to strive for unity with humility and a willingness to esteem others higher than ourselves. We should remember our own sins and not judge others too quickly. Finally, when striving for peace, we should be willing to admit our own wrong, even if it is less than the other person's wrong. By being the first to apologize, we can often encourage the other person to also seek forgiveness and work towards reconciliation. Ultimately, our goal should be to have the mind of Christ and be willing to be humble and make sacrifices for the sake of peace among the brethren. Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) - "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."