ODB: Broken Relationships
May 19, 2011
Two Christians are better than one— when they’re one.
READ: Philippians 4:2-7
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit. —Philippians 2:3
Iwatched from my balcony as a 20-story apartment building was demolished. The demolition took barely a week to complete. In its place a new building is being constructed. It’s been months now, and despite construction activities going on nights and weekends, it is still incomplete. How much easier it is to tear down than to build up!
What is true for demolition and construction of buildings is also true for personal relationships. In Philippians 4:2, Paul wrote to two women in the church, saying, “I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.” The quarrel between these two women threatened to tear down the witness of the Philippian church if left unresolved. So Paul urged a “true companion” (v.3) to help rebuild that relationship.
Sadly, Christians do quarrel, but we should seek to “live peaceably” with all (Rom. 12:18). Unless our conflicts are resolved, the Christian witness so painstakingly built up can be destroyed. It takes much effort and time to reconcile broken relationships. But it is worth it. Like a new building rising from the ruins, reconciled believers can emerge stronger.
May we seek to build each other up through our words and actions today!
— C. P. Hia
Source: Our Daily Bread
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS FeedRelated
ODJ: just a shade
January 15, 2012 You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him (v.8). READ: 1 Peter 1:3-9 In the film Inception, technology allows people to tap into others’ minds by dream invasion. Dom Cobb, the flawed hero in the film, lost his wife Mal when [...]
ODJ: the grapevine
October 20, 2010 A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers (v.19). READ: Proverbs 20:15-19 I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, was recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips and later by Marvin Gaye. It became one of the biggest hits on [...]
ODJ: positioned
February 20, 2010 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (v.16). READ: Ephesians 4:4-16 It’s a very important job.” Serious and maternal, my 9-year-old sought to convince [...]
ODJ: martyrville
November 16, 2011 Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? (v.3). READ: Matthew 7:1-5 A person recently lamented to me, “I don’t get it. Why do all my relationships keep breaking down? I want to get along better with my family and have closer friendships, but [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米
It can be a thin line between rebuking and tearing down. Well, at least the intention behind the words are world apart. Much I think also depend on the person who is receiving it as well. Won’t you agree?