[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2025]
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against each other.
Colossians 3 v12-13 [NIVUK]
During the past few days I have had the ‘pleasure’ of revisiting my domestic archives. Hidden amongst the bills and receipts from some thirty years ago were many memories, some pleasing, some embarrassing. One surprise was the high cost of call-based telephone charges in the 1990s compared with today’s simpler subscriptions.
The collection of papers included several copies of ‘Yours’. In the edition for the last Sunday of June 1998, Jill Norman wrote
“I read some good advice a while ago. It was that whenever we see or hear something we don’t like in another Christian, remember that Jesus is in them. Then we can focus on the ‘Jesus’ part of them and not the aggravating bit.”
It is inevitable that, as we interact with each other, some differences of opinion will arise. How do we manage such occasions in a way that is befitting to our calling to be Christ-like? In conditions of potential conflict, what would Jesus do?
In Luke 9 it is recorded that an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus defused the situation by using a little child to teach the disciples the need for humility. Are we willing to risk our personal ambitions so that the character of God can be seen in us?
Differences of opinion do not have to be destructive. In the early years of the church there was a dispute between Paul and Barnabus. The outcome was that there were two missionary teams spreading the message of salvation.[1]
It can be surprising how our companions in the walk of faith can have such differing opinions, and not just in the context of the secular world. Nevertheless it is important to emphasise that our unity as Christ’s church is more important than those things that might divide us. Here is how Samuel Stone put it in 1866:
Elect from every nation yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth.But she on earth hath union with God the three-in-one
and wondrous sweet communion with those whose rest is won.
Our opening verse above was quoted in that copy of ‘Yours’ in June 1998. In that verse the apostle Paul was writing to the young church in Colossae. He wrote in a similar vein to the church in Rome:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all
Romans 12 v8 [ESVUK]
It is advice that we would do well to apply in both our Christian and secular relationships.
References:
[1] Acts 15:39
Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.
Bible dates:
Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.
Horley Baptist Church onlineHBC main site
Confidential prayer link
Link to Recent Reflections
Link to Index of Bible Passages
Last week’s reflection: Bad News, Good News
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys