This is part 2 of our post addressing a great question related to conflict resolution: “what do you do when the relationship is beyond repair?” As I stated in the last post, I’m sharing four steps to consider when trying to resolve conflicts that seem impossible. The first two steps were:
1. Focus on the highest goal.
2. Forgive and be merciful.
Today I want to share the the final steps which are; Be Persistent and Make A Sacrifice.
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christs behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NKJV)
3. Be Persistent.
When God set out to reconcile the world to himself, he didn’t wait for us to come to him. He came down from his throne to meet us at the point of our need for salvation. Paul says God is still pleading with the world through his believers. God is persistent in his efforts to resolve the conflict with humanity. We should also be persistent in our attempts to resolve conflicts in broken relationships. We should love others enough to plead for reconciliation like God did for us.
4. Make A Sacrifice.
It is impossible for people to reconcile themselves to God using their own goodness or abilities. So God accomplished the impossible by making a sacrifice. Paul saya “For He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Some conflicts seem impossible to resolve because neither person is willing to sacrifice, give, or forgive for the sake of the relationship.
We fail to give up our pride because we believe we are right and others are wrong (they need to apologize to me.). We believe we are justified in our feelings and refuse to sacrifice those feelings for reconciliation (you just don’t know what they did to me.). We may even devalue others believing the person and the relationship are worthless (forget about you. We don’t have to be friends anymore.).
Every person, in every relationship, in every conflict is worth our sacrifice. Regardless of what they’ve done or how hurt we may feel, they are so valuable and important that God sacrificed his only Son for them.
What sacrifices are the most difficult for you to make in relationships? For me, it’s sacrificing my pride when others attack my character. What’s yours? Leave a reply.
Every person….is worth a sacrifice…wow!
Thanks for pointing that out. I’d like to add to it: every person is worth our best sacrifice. God made his best sacrifice for us.