Hello! Did you get to watch Sue and Linda’s recent interview with Becky Harling? She shared about her book Friend-Wise, and I, for one, am excited to go read it! We are continuing to talk about resolutions this week, and since Becky shared about community, it is fitting that we continue the conversation. Becky shared about what a blessing and encouragement community can be, which is true. Also, sometimes community is hard. Our resolution from Jonathan Edwards this week is:
“Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.”
Did the word “irrational” catch your attention like it did mine? I wonder who Edwards had in mind when he wrote this resolution. Was it someone specific, or was he recognizing that we are all imperfect people? I think we can think of it both ways. Maybe you have someone specific in your community that you clash with, someone disagreeable, or someone who has offended you. If you don’t have anyone specific right now, there will come a time when you do, because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Perhaps you can think in more general terms.
God designed us to live not in isolation but in community, and He did that for two reasons. Community mirrors the relationship and love that exists between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Trinity, and when it reflects God’s love, it can be an incredible blessing. Unfortunately, sin entered the equation, and human relationships were not exempt from the effects of sin. Now we are messy, sinful people—irrational people. No one is perfect. We make mistakes, we hurt one another, and our pride and selfishness get in the way. The list of ways we fail one another can go on forever. However, Edwards resolved not to let anger overcome him.
In the book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote:
Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the communal life, is not the sinning brother still a brother, with whom I, too, stand under the Word of Christ? Will not his sin be a constant occasion for me to give thanks that both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ? Thus, the very hour of disillusionment with my brother becomes incomparably salutary, because it teaches me that neither of us can ever live by our own words and deeds, but only by that one Word and Deed which really binds us together—the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.
God turns our brokenness into good when He turns our sin against one another into a reminder of His forgiving love, a love that binds us together. We can remind ourselves that we also make mistakes and need forgiveness. That reminder humbles us and moves us to praise instead of anger, which can tempt us into disunity. Ephesians 4:1-7 says,
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
We are called to maintain the unity of spirit with our brothers and sisters by being humble, gentle, patient, and bearing with one another in love. When there is disunity, we can use this as a simple heart check and ask:
- Am I being humble?
- Am I being gentle?
- Am I being patient?
- Am I bearing in love with my brother or sister?
It’s easy to push away, but doing the hard heart work will bear eternal fruit. And you can trust that the Holy Spirit is working in the heart of the person who has wronged you. Remember, God is the judge and the justifier, and only the Holy Spirit can change hearts. Release your pain and anger to Him and trust that he will work it out.
If you’re struggling with a relationship with a fellow believer, I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I want to remind you that God can turn what was meant for evil to good. You can trust Him with the pain of your situation. I also want to remind you that He can use it to draw you near and sanctify you if you humbly submit your anger to Him. Let’s resolve not to suffer from anger. It would be so powerful to memorize Ephesians 4:1-3 or write down those 4 simple questions to pull out when Satan tries to use our sin to divide Christ’s Church.
This week may have felt heavy, but I hope it also encouraged your heart to draw near to God. Join me next week as we talk about resolving to draw near to God in prayer.
Thank you fir this post! Great remunder!