March 11, 2012 | Leave a comment Today, Sunday March 11, 2012, is the sixteenth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” strife and “put on” peace. Strife is an emotional cancer which can ruin relationships, divide families, and cause misery that scars families and churches for generations. Strife is defined as; “a heated often violent dissension; a bitter conflict, fight, or quarrel; contention or competition between rivals.” It never ceases to amaze me that many people choose to live in strife. To often Christian families and churches resemble the feuding Hatfield’s and McCoy’s more than Christ. Living in strife and continuous dissension is not the way of Christ nor is it His will for anyone who claims Him as Savior. As we prepare ourselves for Easter I ask you to consider whether your are living with strife. If so “put off” strife and “put on” peace. In his writing to the church at Corinth Paul identifies the root off strife in our lives. 1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and [strife] quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 According to Paul strife is an indicator of worldliness and general immaturity in Christ. Too many of us attempt to excuse our own misbehavior in this area with excuses like “I’m high strung,” or “that’s just how I am put together.” The reality is that each of us are put together this way due to the sin in our life. It is only through the working of the Holy Spirit within us that such fruits of the flesh are “put off” while fruits of the Spirit are “put on.” This exchange of fruits of the flesh for fruits of the spirit is evidence of Christian maturity. While many of us may excuse the presence of strife in our lives the Scripture certainly does not. 22 An angry man stirs up [strife] dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22 Here in Proverbs the Bible identifies anger as the precursor for strife. Please notice that according to Scripture this anger leads us to commit many sins. So for us to excuse ourselves whenever we stir up strife is to deny the truth of the Bible. In fact Scripture teaches us that we are to live peaceably with all people. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 This verse recognizes that living at peace with others may not always be dependent upon us, but whenever it is we can and should always choose the path of peace. In case I have not yet convinced you that each of us needs to “put off” strife and “put on” peace please consider the following verse from James. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 The wisdom from God is peace loving. Therefore, if I do not love peace and seek to live peaceably in all of my relationships then there is something wrong with my thinking. The presence of strife in my life reveals a faulty understanding of the wisdom God wants me to possess. Furthermore, the presence of strife in my life shows that the source of my wisdom is not from God at all. Today, you and I need to search all the relationships in our lives for any signs of strife and where we find it we need to examine our own hearts and determine whether or not we are its source. If we are we need to confess to God and those whom we have offended and begin to live peaceably with them. Join me today in “putting off” strife and “putting on” peace. I think we will both be glad we did!