PHILIPPIANS 1:30

“experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

Raise your hand if you like conflict. That’s what I thought. No one chooses to have conflicts in their lives. If we had our druthers, we would rather live in peace and quiet. Am I right? The older I get the less I like conflicts. My memory verse this week fits this well. Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Sounds easy, huh? Not really.

Paul didn’t have to go far to find conflict or opposition. Remember, right after he got saved and started preaching, he had to escape in a basket over the wall of Damascus from those who sought to kill him. So, when Paul talks about conflicts, we need to sit up and listen. He knew what he was talking about. The word he uses here for “conflict” is agon from which we get the word “agony.”

APPLICATION

Agon is only used five other times in the New Testament (Colossians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7 and Hebrews 12:1). Let’s look at a couple of those. Paul uses agon in Colossians 2:1 this way. “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf…” Here, he calls it a struggle. Aren’t all conflicts a struggle – a struggle not to say the wrong thing, a struggle to not lash out in defense? 

In 1 Timothy 6:12 and 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul uses agon to describe the good fight of faith. In 1 Timothy he is telling Timothy to fight the good fight. In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul is saying he has fought the good fight of faith. A good fight? Sounds kind of strange, doesn’t it? Paul is telling us that there are some fights that are worth it. Our fight against the forces of evil for the kingdom of God is worth it.

As you face conflicts (and you will), remember the words from Proverbs. Your discretion will make you slow to anger. And it is to your benefit to overlook or forgive transgressions against you. It is not easy, but it is worth it. Let God use these conflicts to shape and mold you more like Christ.

Father, I am not able in my own flesh to face conflicts with a godly attitude. I need You to fill me and teach me.