What weapons do you use when you fight?

When fighting – either with yourself or someone else – what weapons do you use?  If an angry driver is yelling at you, are you yelling back?  If your spouse is digging up old dirt, are you diggin’ it up too?  When your father is feeding you his typical insults, are youflinging ’em right back? Understanding this was an issue in the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul took some time to instruct them in the art of biblical warfare.  In 2 Corinthians 10, he appeals to them saying - and I’m paraphrasing here - ‘please guys, in the gentleness and kindness of Christ, I beg you, don’t act like (or fight like, or think like, or respond like) the people around you; like the people of the world.’  He says, ‘we have weapons for battle, just like they do, but ours are different thanks to the Lord.’

In other words, when an arrogant police officer gives you an “undeserved” ticket, instead of suggesting he head on back to Dunkin’ Donuts, you should admit your fault and humbly accept the consequences;  when you arrive at the register at the same time as another customer but that customer pretends they don’t see you and jumps in line first, instead of allowing a loud “ppssttpst” to slip from your lips while you simultaneously berate them in your mind, you should mumble a quick prayer for grace and then back up so they don’t feel you’re intentionally crowding them; when a friend or family member hurts your feelings, instead of deciding ‘fine, if he’s gonna act that way, he can just experience the silence I’m capable of,’ you should search for any wrong you may have done that precipitated the conflict, apologize and then commit to pray that your heart will soften toward that person.

Thanks be to God there’s a different way.  It’s true, we live in an old, rotten world; a world full of anger, pettiness and insecurity, but we don’t have to act like it!’  Because of the Lord’s tender mercies, we can learn to treat others not as they deserve but as the Lord treats us.  When we do, conflicts will lessen, disagreements will be minimized and fights will cease.

Who, right now, needs you to fight differently?  Try it God’s way and peace will be a natural byproduct of your obedience.