Keeping the Peace

Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou will take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:8, 9.
Abraham returned to Canaan “very rich in cattle, in silver and in gold.” Lot was still with him and again they came to Bethel, and pitched their tents by the altar which they had before erected. They soon found that increased possessions brought increased trouble. In the midst of hardships and trials they had dwelt together in harmony, but in their prosperity there was danger of strife between them. The pasturage was not sufficient for the flocks and herds of both…. It was evident that they must separate. Abraham was Lot’s senior in years, and his superior in relation, in wealth and in position; yet he was the first to propose plans for preserving peace. Although the whole land had been given him by God Himself, he courteously waived his right….
Here the noble, unselfish spirit of Abraham was displayed. How many under similar circumstances would, at all hazards, cling to their individual rights and preferences! How many households have thus been rent asunder! How many churches have been divided, making the cause of truth a byword and a reproach among the wicked! “Let there be no strife between me and thee,” said Abraham, “for we be brethren;” not only by natural relationship, but as worshipers of the true God. The children of God the world over are one family, and the same spirit of love and conciliation should govern them. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another” (Romans 12:10), is the teaching of our Saviour. The cultivation of a uniform courtesy, a willingness to do to others as we would wish them to do to us, would annihilate half the ills of life. The spirit of self-aggrandizement is the spirit of Satan; but the heart in which the love of Christ is cherished, will possess that charity which seeketh not her own. Such will heed the divine injunction, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4).
Conflict and Courage p. 47
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Prayer Requests
—– Please pray for a dear friend of mine that is struggling with extreme addiction. It’s been a battle for years but is so much worse now. Satan has a strong hold on him. Dannielle
—–Please pray for the Caviness family in this time of sorrow. Larry passed yesterday. Rose
—– SPECIAL PRAYERS PLEASE: For Carol. She is now wheelchair bound and continues to battle stage 4 cancer. THANK YOU for your prayers. Alice
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Dear Friends,
When Esther was a little girl, she saw a commercial on TV for a baby doll. This was no ordinary doll. Instead of being stiff, cold, and lifeless, this doll was made of rubber that could be filled with warm water. This caused it to feel like it was a real baby. How Esther wanted one of those dolls!
Eileen decided that she would get her one for Christmas. This was no easy task. Many other little girls had seen that commercial and begged for that doll. Their parents had thought that it would make a wonderful present. Every store was sold out of that toy. The doll was nowhere to be found.
After calling and calling store after store for the baby doll, Eileen finally located a store that had a few left. She convinced the clerk to set one aside for her. We immediately drove to town to buy it. Eileen’s joy knew no bounds as she anticipated Esther’s delight at receiving the coveted prize.
When Esther unwrapped her gift, she was just as happy as Eileen had thought she would be. Any other present was forgotten as she went to the sink, turned on the hot water, and used the blue funnel to fill the baby doll with warm water. How she cuddled and cuddled that doll! Eileen felt well rewarded for all of her effort in finding it.
Each day, Esther played with that doll. Each night she filled it with very warm water and cuddled it as she went to sleep. Over time, however, she played with it less and less during the day only using it at night. As summer brought warm nights, the doll was discarded amongst her other toys. In a year or two, it was rarely used for anything but a hot water bottle.
How often we treat the gospel in the same way. When we first hear the Good News of Salvation, we embrace it with delight. Our Bible becomes our constant companion. We read and study its pages with diligence. We tell everyone we meet about our Wonderful Saviour. Sadly, over time, we begin to allow other things to crowd our mind. We lose our “first love.” Such was the experience of the first of the seven churches spoken of in Revelation. “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes [a licentious group of people who claimed that it didn’t matter what they did as long as they only believed–{see The Web Bible Encyclopedia}], which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Rev 2:1-7
How vital it is that we keep that zeal, that fervor that marked our first acceptance of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. How important that we continue “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:13,14
May we “give diligence to make your calling and election sure” that we may never lose our first love experience. 2 Peter 1:10 May we daily “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we “continue thou in the things which [we have] learned and [have] been assured of,” “which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 2 Tim 3:14, 1 Cor 2:13
Rose