Topic: BEWARE OF STRIFE – Church of God Mission International – Above Only Daily Devotional 19 November  2023

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ABOVE ONLY DAILY DEVOTIONAL

BY: ARCHBISHOP M. E. BENSON IDAHOSA

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 19TH, 2023

BEWARE OF STRIFE

PROVERBS. 15:18(AMP), PROVERBS. 16:28(NLT), PROVERBS. 17:14 (AMP), PROVERBS. 20:3 (AMP)

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger appeases contention. *A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates…friends. *The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out. *It is an honor for a man to cease from strife and keep aloof from it, but every fool will quarrel.

A king arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph and he became intimidated and apprehensive about the size and greatness of the Israelites. He was worried that if war arose, the Israelites could join their enemies to fight against them. This fear and negative thoughts led him to start maltreating the Israelites, (Exo.1:8-11). This is how a lot of strife, hatred, arguments, quarrels and fighting emanate from irrelevant and unnecessary issues. Haman began planning to wipe out all the Jews from the land of Shushan because someone told him that Mordecai was not bowing down to greet him like everybody else was, (Esth.3:1-6). The disciples of Jesus once had strife over who was the greatest among them, (Luke 22:24).

The Bible shows us that gossips (Prov.26:20) and scorners (Prov.22:10) produce strife. Strife is a work of the flesh, (Gal.5:20). Engaging in it is being carnal and behaving like mere men, (1 Cor.3:3, NKJV). Envy and strife produce confusion and every evil work, (James 3:16). On the other hand, where there is love and unity God is pleased and He commands His blessing there, (Psa.133:1-3). Be spiritually minded and follow peace with all men, (Heb.12:14). Walk in love and be selfless. Forgive and bear with others, (Phil.2:3). Don’t be overcome with evil. Overcome evil with good, (Rom.12:21).

PRAYER:
PLEASE HELP ME, HEAVENLY FATHER, BY YOUR SPIRIT, TO AVOID STRIFE THROUGH YOUR WISDOM, LOVE, SELFLESSNESS, AND SPIRITUALITY.

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