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Scripture References:
• 1 Galatians 5:19-12
• Mark 11:25, 26
• Galatians 5:22, 23
• Luke 6:27-34
Jesus commands us to love one another, but this is often easier said than done. For example, how many times have you wanted to give someone a piece of your mind when he or she cut in front of you in traffic or responded in a curt manner at the grocery store? What about when your co-workers provoke you and your friends and family members start to get on your last nerve? Is there ever an acceptable time to blow your top and let someone have it with both barrels?
No! Strife and unforgiveness—two of the enemy’s most powerful weapons—hinder God from working on your behalf. In fact, they do more than that; they grant Satan access to your life. Just as God is love, Satan is strife. When you allow your life to be consumed with strife, you allow Satan to consume you. By giving in to a bad attitude, throwing a temper tantrum or holding a grudge, you actually open yourself up to sickness, disease, insufficiency and death. Your prayers can’t even be answered because of the unforgiveness you hold in your heart toward those who have hurt you.
God takes strife seriously, and so should you. In fact, the Bible places strife in the same category as murder and adultery (Galatians 5:19-21)! But the Word also provides you with ways to live strife-free. Jesus said in Mark 11:25-26, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” In other words, make a quality decision to let go of past hurts and forgive those people with whom you are angry. Why? Until you choose to forgive them, God cannot forgive you.
It is important that you, as a Christian, live free from strife. You can do this by tapping into the heavenly arsenal that is at your disposal. A primary weapon to use against strife is your spiritual development in the fruit of the Spirit, which is love. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the components of love as joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. By developing these characteristics in your life, you develop the very nature of Christ within you, enabling you to defeat strife. In addition to walking in the fruit of the Spirit daily, you must also do as Jesus commanded in Luke 6:27-34, and love your enemies by praying for and doing good things for them. This doesn’t mean that you allow someone to abuse you; rather, it is a way to exhibit God’s love to a lost and dying world, thereby forever changing the lives of those around you.
Keep in mind, however, that times of testing will come! Don’t be surprised to find that once you have made your mind up to live strife-free, people and situations will come up against you in an attempt to keep you from progressing in this area. I can’t count the number of times that has happened to me. However, I was determined not to let the Devil keep me from developing in Jesus’ character. So choose your weapon—character development, prayer and love, coupled with your diligent effort—to overcome the wiles of the enemy and live strife-free!
— Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
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