Esteeming One Another in a Conflict

Last week Rob Wilkerson blogged on How to Treat Others With Whom You Disagree. He applies the gospel to a disagreement and counsels:

Try this next time you find yourself disagreeing with a brother or sister in Christ, especially over something that gets your feathers ruffled...something that makes you irritated...something that hurts your feelings...something that offends you. Repeat to yourself the gospel truths about how God views you.

• You've been made right God through Christ.
• God has forgiven you of all your sin - past, present, and future because of Christ.
• God has poured out the riches of His blessings on you in Christ.
• You have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
• You've been reconciled to the Father and made His friend.
• He has promised His eternal love and favor toward you because of Christ.
• He will never allow anything to remove you from His preserving Hand.

Now, apply these same gospel truths to the one with whom you disagree, the one who offends or irritates.

Of course, we should still work to resolve the differences. The gospel enables us to treat the other person with esteem and not hatred.