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It Takes Two from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

It is a simple fact that if you never opened your mouth, you would never have an argument. I am including our text-based social media conversations as dialogue as well. In short, we are always part of the problem. None of our disagreements escalate without our help. I am talking about personal relationships and keeping the peace. People don't have to think like us to be right. 

Of course, evil should be resisted. Murderers should answer for their crimes, and evil dictators should be dethroned. But can't we learn to let some of our petty squabbles go? It won't kill you if you say nothing, though it may kill something in you. 

The Lord has said, "Vengeance is Mine. I will repay." And believe me, He can. The Apostle Paul wrote this:

(Romans 12:17–20 NKJV)  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 

When King Saul was chasing young David, there were a couple of times when David got the drop on him and could have killed him. He once caught Saul in a cave with his trousers down and another time when he was sleeping. David refused to harm "the Lord's anointed" king. Saul met his demise in time, and David became the next king. It just took patience. Solomon wrote:

(Proverbs 20:22 NASB)  Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Just as God created the law of gravity to hold things down to the ground. An atmosphere where plants live off our breath, and we live off theirs. There is the law of the harvest: We reap what we sow. We plant a seed and will later harvest a grown plant with a hundred-fold return if we don't lose heart. The Apostle Paul wrote:

(Galatians 6:7 NKJV)  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

"Whatever" is a big word that covers a lot of things. For example, I once gave a widow a computer, and the following month I received several better ones from someone else. Yep, it happened. I have given away forty dollars and received four thousand back later. Sowing and reaping work in the physical realm but also in the spiritual. 

Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Luke 6:31). Why? Because the way you treat others will affect how others treat you. The seeds you have planted will come up, both the good and the bad. This is a theme throughout the teachings of Christ: 

(Luke 6:37–38 NKJV)  "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

What if we did the opposite of everything Jesus said there? "Judge others, and you will be judged. Condemn others, and you will be condemned. Refuse to forgive others, and you won't be forgiven. Don't give, and it won't be given to you." For every action, there is a reaction. Ouch.

Become the person you wish others were. Treat them as you would like them to treat you. Peace on Earth would be great, but start with peace in your household. We are often a mirror, and the same attitude we use is measured and multiplied back to us. 

Also, never let anyone teach you that your actions have no consequences because you are now "saved." Salvation isn't a "get out of jail free" card. It will help if you stop doing the things that end with you in jail. 

(Matthew 5:43–44 NKJV)  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you"

Resist escalating conflict, for we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, but spirits behind the scenes manipulating people (Ephesians 6:12). The Lord works through His people; So does luci.

Take the high ground in conversation. The Lord will make things right in due time, for nothing is hidden from His sight. The Apostle Paul chastised the Corinthians for suing one another: 

(1 Corinthians 6:7–8 NKJV)  Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 

(1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NKJV)  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

The Apostle Peter, who Jesus taught for three and a half years, summed it up this way:

(1 Peter 3:8–9 NASB)  To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

You can pray this with me if you like: 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You so much for taking care of me! Please help me put a guard over my lips and live in peace with those around me. Let me see others through Your eyes and learn to walk in love. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!