Last Call Digest: Release your fears at Christmas-Rick Warren

Release your fears at Christmas

Wednesday December 16 2009

Posted by Rick Warren

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But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid." Luke 2:10 (NIV)
Christmas is not just a season, but it is a time specifically chosen by God for Jesus to come to earth: "But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son." (Galatians 4:4 TEV)
Knowing that Christmastime is God's chosen time teaches us that Christmas is the time for us to release our fears.
What are the things you're worried about?  The economy?  Your health?  Your bills? Your kids? Are you worried about the future? The fact is there are lots of reasons to be afraid in today's world, but God's message at Christmastime is "Don't be afraid!" (Luke 2:10 NIV) Release your anxieties; let go of your fears.
It's interesting to note that there are 365 verses in the Bible that say, "Fear not." God provided us with one 'fear not' message for every day of the year! Do you think God is saying, "Get the message.  Don't be afraid!"
Why does he want us to get the message? Because a lot of people are afraid of God! But God says we do not need to be afraid of him. He is for us; not against us.
And with the birth of Jesus, God shows he is with us.
This Christmas release your fears to the God who says we no longer need to be afraid.


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"What's mine is yours" ~ Rick Warren

"Your generosity ... not only provides for the needs of God's people, but also produces prayers of thanksgiving to God." 

(2 Corinthians 9:12)

When we're generous with each other, we thank God for each other and we're drawn closer to each other.

One of my friends learned the connection between generosity and community when one of his neighbors came by to borrow a ladder. A few weeks later, my friend discovered his neighbor already had a ladder, but the neighbor borrowed one as a way of building a relationship.

My friend said, "When my neighbor borrowed my stuff, it made me feel like I was needed, and I liked that feeling. Now I do the same thing with other neighbors. For instance, my neighbor, Roger, has a Shop Vac, and I borrow it every Friday to clean my car. Roger even leaves it out for me on Fridays. I told Roger the other day that I could buy my own Shop Vac, but I liked the interaction with him. He told me not to buy one because he liked the interaction, too."

The Bible says,

 

"Your heart will be wherever your treasure is." 

(Matthew 6:21) 

Wherever I put my time, my money, my effort, my energy, wherever I invest myself - that's what's going to attract me.

For some of you, your heart may be in your home. That's where you're putting your time, your money, and your energy - fixing it up. Or your heart may be in your work. That's where you're putting your time, your money and your energy. Or it may be in a hobby. That's where you're putting your time, your money and your energy.

Wherever your treasure is, your heart's going to be there.

So, when I'm generous with you or with the poor or with anybody, that's where my heart tends to go. And every time I give to God, it draws my heart closer to God, and every time I give to you, it draws my heart closer to you. Giving or generosity creates community.

The first Christians were famous for their generosity.

"The community of believers... shared everything in common."

(Acts 4: 32)

They were a family; they shared it all: 'What's mine is yours, and you can share it with me.' It was voluntary. Christianity says, "What's mine is yours and you can share it with me."

When you're a parent, and you have little kids in your home, you enjoy watching them share with each other? When you see that your kids are unselfish, you're very happy with that.

And God is the same way.

When God looks down on us and He sees us being generous with each other He says, "That's My boy! That's My girl! They're doing what I want them to do."

Because God is generous, and He wants us to become like Him.

Molded into Godly Character ~ Rick Warren

Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)

Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; it is how you habitually act.The Bible says, "Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness"

(Ephesians 4:24 NIV)

God uses his Word, people, and circumstances to mold us. 

All three are indispensable for character development. God's Word provides the truth we need to grow, God's people provide the support we need to grow, and circumstances provide the environment to practice Christlikeness.

If you study and apply God's Word, connect regularly with other believers, and learn to trust God in difficult circumstances, I guarantee you will become more like Jesus.

Many people assume all that is needed for spiritual growth is Bible study and prayer. But some issues in life will never be changed by Bible study or prayer alone. God uses people. He usually prefers to work through people rather than perform miracles, so that we will depend on each other for fellowship. He wants us to grow together.

In many religions, the people considered to be the most spiritually mature and holy are those who isolate themselves from others in mountaintop monasteries, uninfected by contact with other people.

But this is a gross misunderstanding.

Spiritual maturity is not a solitary, individual pursuit!

You cannot grow to Christlikeness in isolation. You must be around other people and interact with them. You need to be a part of a church and community.

Why? Because true spiritual maturity is all about learning to love like Jesus, and you can't practice being like Jesus without being in relationship with other people.

Remember that during this Christmas season, when your family or friends challenge your ability to respond like Jesus!!

Remember, it's all about love - loving God and loving others.

Jesus Gave Honest Counsel ~ Rick Warren

"A friend means well even when he hurts you”

(Proverbs 27:6 GN).

Jesus shows us that real friends care enough to confront. Even when it's painful, they'll tell you the truth (Proverbs 27:6 GN).

They won’t let you waste your life in silence.

I’ve found that correcting another is powerful—and it can be dangerous. Done the right way, it builds people up, but done the wrong way, it can scar a person for life.

The difference between the right and the wrong way to correct is your attitude. If all you're doing is pointing out faults, then stop.

The purpose has to be to correct, not to condemn.

You need to ask, "What's my motive in this? Am I correcting him for my benefit or for his benefit?"

A lot of times we want to correct people just because they're being jerks and they're hassling us. We think, "If they would stop being such a jerk, my life would be easier."

That's the wrong motive.

Instead, follow Ephesians 4:15, which says,

"Speak the truth in love."

Love means giving people what they need
rather than what they deserve.

So this is the key to proper correction:

Affirm the person; then correct the behavior.

Jesus Encouraged People ~ Rick Warren

“We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak in order to build them up in the faith”

(Romans 15:1).

Jesus encouraged people, and he told those who are strong in faith to make a point of encouraging others in their faith 

(Romans 15:1).

We all need confidence.

When you know that someone believes in you, it brings out your best. Jesus did this with the Apostle Peter. “Petros,” Peter's name, meant pebble. But Jesus said,

"Pebble, you're going to be a rock. I'm giving you a new name."

When Jesus said that to Peter, the apostle was anything but a rock. He was Mr. Impulsive, Mr. Foot-in-Mouth. But Jesus didn't tell him what he was—he told him what he could be. He gave Peter confidence to live up to his potential.

We all need encouragement. Over the years, I’ve kept an Encouragement File. Every time anybody writes me a note, a card, or a letter, I file it. Even if it's mildly encouraging, like "Better luck next time," or "You tried on that sermon—good try," it still gets filed.

Then on days when I'm discouraged, down, and tired, I get out the Encouragement File and read through all the letters and cards that I've collected.

When you give encouragement, 
it needs to be genuine.

So, give from the heart and with sincerity.

Encouragement also needs to be regular—don’t be stingy with your encouragement. And encouragement needs to be specific.

Instead of saying, "I enjoyed the meal,” say, "I can tell you put a lot of effort into this meal and the seasoning you chose was perfect.”

Instead of saying, "You did a good job,” say, "I noticed you handled that angry member with tact and you maintained your cool under pressure.”

Jesus Challenged People ~ Rick Warren

“We should consider the good of our neighbor and build up his character.”

(Romans 15:2)

You can be a homebuilder, bodybuilder, reputation-builder, or a retirement-nest-egg-builder, but none of those things will last. There is something, though, you can put your efforts into now that will last forever.

You can be a people-builder.

The Bible encourages us to do just that in Romans 15:2, where it says,

"We should consider the good of our neighbor and build up his character."

How do you build your people? 

The key is kindness—giving people what they need, not what they deserve. When you consider the way Jesus built people up, he did three things—challenged, encouraged, and spoke honestly.

Today, we’ll look at how Jesus challenged people to be all God made them to be. The Apostle Paul echoes this teaching, in Ephesians 4:1, when he says,

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."

His point is, “Don’t waste your life!”

Challenge your family and friends to live beyond themselves and to discover their strengths and abilities. God has given each of us some special abilities, and he wants us to use them to help each other.

We’re to pass on to others God's many kinds of blessings.

We all need somebody who will help us discover our gifts and who will challenge us to develop, strengthen, and use them. You can play a critical role in this way by helping the ones you love to discover their strengths and abilities, and then challenging them to use them.

And, help them understand how special their gifts are—that we will all miss out on a blessing if they don’t use the gifts God has given them. It’s like a singer who never sings; we miss out on the blessing that would come from hearing the voice.

We are meant to be a blessing to others.

God's Purpose In Suffering ~ Rick Warren

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” 

(Psalms 23:4 NIV).

Did Jesus suffer?

Was Jesus sometimes lonely? 

Was he tempted to be discouraged? 

Was he misunderstood, maligned and criticized unjustly? 

The answer to all these questions is “Yes.”

And none of us are exempted from suffering, or loneliness, or discouragement, or unjust criticism—because God is developing within us the character of Christ, and in order to do this, he must take us through all of the circumstances in life that he took Christ through.

This means God is more interested in your character than your comfort, and he's more concerned about your holiness than your happiness. 

So, the question is not if you'll go through dark times in life, but when you'll go through them.

Now, does this mean God causes tragedies? 

No. God is good, and he will not cause evil or do evil. 

 But God can use dark and stressful times for good; he'll use them to build a Christ-like character within us.

So, what should you do when you go through difficult times?

Refuse to be discouraged.

David said, 

“I will fear no evil” 

(Psalms 23:4 NIV). 

His use of the word will implies a choice, an act of decision. In the final 12 hours of Christ's life, we can clearly see he made a choice to follow God's will; He made a choice to face down fear; he made a choice

Remember God is with you. 

David said, 

“For you are with me” 

(Psalms 23:4 NIV).

God not only promises his power; he promises his presence. We will never go through a dark day alone. Jesus knew he wasn't alone as he walked out his Passion.

Rely on God’s protection and guidance. 

David said in Psalm 23:4 that God's rod and staff comforted him. 

The rod and staff were basic tools a shepherd used to protect and guide the sheep. God will be with you, and he'll protect and guide you. Jesus could have called down 10,000 angels; he could have called his disciples to arms; instead he relied on God to protect and guide Him.

We all go through difficult times. 

The difference for those who believe in Jesus is not the absence of the shadow but the presence of the Light.

Growing Spiritual Fruit ~ Rick Warren

 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds”

(John 12:24, NIV).

When you think about your walk with Jesus, some days you may wonder, “Why is this so hard? I’m still struggling with so many problems. When will I finally get it right?”

In my journey as a pastor, I’ve learned spiritual growth is often like the growth we see in nature: the best fruit ripens slowly. 


In John 12:24, Jesus says, 
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” 

(John 12:24, NIV).

The problem is that we tend to get impatient, so we dig up the seed to check the progress of its growth, and that slows down our growth!


 If you’re not seeing as much fruit as you’d like, don’t despair. Growth takes time.

In the meantime, try these steps toward spiritual growth.

Nurture growth with God’s Word. 

I know you’re already doing this, but when you read the promises of God, again and again, it helps you remember that he is at work, even when you can’t see him at work: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).

Cooperate with God as he prunes.

Praise God for the work he’s doing in your life, remembering that “he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more” (John 15:2 NLT).

Pray through the “fruit list” 

from Galatians 5:22-23. 

The NIV Bible lists the fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Ask God to help you grow this fruit in your life.

Serving Your Generation in Your Time ~ Rick Warren

“After David had served his generation according to the will of God, he died” 

(Acts 13:36 NLT).

My life verse is Acts 13:36, where we’re told David is purpose-driven.

Imagine having that statement inscribed on your tombstone: “He served God’s purpose in his own generation!” “She served God’s purpose in her own generation!” 


In my opinion, you could receive no greater honor than that.

So how do you do that?

“He served God’s purpose…”

God’s purpose for you is to use your life in worship, ministry, evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship. The Church allows us to do it together. We are not alone in serving him.

“…In his own generation.”

The truth is you can’t serve God in any other generation except your own! You may want to—but it’s only wishful thinking. We cannot bring back the past. Whether we like it or not, we must minister to people in the culture as it really is—not in some past form that we may have idolized in our minds.

You don’t know the final chapter of your life, but you can be confident of this:


“… that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” 

(Phil. 1:6 NIV).

God finishes whatever he starts. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. There are many factors that influence your life, things you have no control over: your background, nationality, age, giftedness. These were determined by the sovereignty of God.

But there is one important factor that you do have a control over: 


how much you choose to believe God as you serve your generation according to his will.

How to Get the Most From Your Mentors ~ Rick Warren

"It’s better to be criticized by a wise man than praised by a fool” (Ecclesiastes 7:5).

Mentors can bring out the best in you and help you achieve God’s unique mission for your life. They help you keep growing—in your roles, your goals, and your soul.

To be mentored, you must learn to listen and receive feedback. I’ve had eight different mentors in my life. I also have a whole list of advisors—they’re like my brain trust. I bounce ideas off them and get their feedback.

The Bible teaches the importance of accepting feedback: “It’s better to be criticized by a wise man than praised by a fool” (Ecclesiastes 7:5).

Feedback is absolutely essential in order to fulfill God’s mission for your life. If you don’t get feedback, you’re going to get off course. Did you know that in all the Apollo flights to the moon the shuttles had to do course corrections literally every second? The earth was turning, the moon was turning, and in order to get the rocket to the spot on the moon where it was supposed to be at a specific time, the astronauts had to continually correct their course.

And that means they had to get feedback.

If you’re not open to feedback, you’re not going to learn, you’re not going to grow, and you’re not going to develop. Go out and find someone you trust, someone with skills and experiences you can learn from and ask that person to be your mentor.

Who's Advising You? ~ Rick Warren

“Counsel in the heart of man is like a deep well but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5).

We all need mentors—people who personally coach us in our walk with God.

When I am with a mentor, I ask questions. Asking questions adds to the quality of your life: “Counsel in the heart of man is like a deep well but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5).

Every person has a reservoir of knowledge, skills, and experience to share and you’re wise if you learn to draw them out.

In fact, you don’t have to limit asking questions to just a single mentor who you meet with on a regular basis. You can meet a “mentor” anywhere.

My suggestions is to keep a 3x5 card with you that has a list of standard questions you can ask whenever you meet someone you can learn from; you then pull out your card and ask questions like:

How do you handle stress?
What have been the greatest successes in your life?
What do you think contributed to that success?
What did you learn from the greatest failure of your life?
What would you do differently if you could start over?
What kind of books do you read?
How do you manage your time?
How do you manage your money?
What have been the greatest lessons you’ve learned?
What have been the greatest surprises in your life?

Listening Will Transform Your Relationships ~ Rick Warren

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19 NIV).

One of the most common causes of frustration and friction in relationships is that we don't really listen to each other. Too often we talk at each other rather than with each other.

Fortunately, listening is a skill that can be developed.

The benefits of learning how to listen are enormous: fewer mistakes, better negotiating, greater wisdom, more friends, less arguments, and much more.

The Bible tells us to be “Quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry" (James 1:19 NIV). If you master the first two skills, the third will be automatic.

Three things hinder our hearing:

Presumption: when we think we already know it all. "He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame" (Proverbs 18:13 NIV).

Impatience: when we interrupt and jump to conclusions. "There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking" (Proverbs 29:20 NLT).

Pride: when we’re defensive and unteachable. "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice" (Proverbs 12:15 NIV). You can learn from anyone if you know the right questions to ask.

Let me suggest three hearing aids:

Listen with your eyes. Probably 80% of communication is non-verbal. Facial expressions and body language usually tell the real story. Look at people when you listen to them!

Listen with your heart. Be sympathetic. Tune in to the emotions behind the words.

Make time to listen to the people around you. In the business world, Tom Peters calls this "Managing By Walking Around," or MBWA. Imagine how your relationships could be transformed if you focused on carefully listening to those around you.

Restoring Relationships: Reconciliation, Not Always Resolution ~ Rick Warren

“Work hard at living in peace with others”

(1 Peter 3:11 NLT).

The seventh biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to emphasize reconciliation, not resolution.

It’s unrealistic to expect everyone to agree about everything. Reconciliation focuses on the relationship, while resolution focuses on the problem. When we focus on reconciliation, the problem loses significance and often becomes irrelevant.

We can re-establish a relationship even when we are unable to resolve our differences. Christians often have legitimate, honest disagreements and differing opinions, but we can disagree without being disagreeable.

The same diamond looks different from different angles. God expects unity, not uniformity, and we can walk arm in arm without seeing eye to eye on every issue.

This doesn't mean you give up on finding a solution. You may need to continue discussing and even debating - but you do it in a spirit of harmony. Reconciliation means you bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue.

With whom do you need to restore fellowship? Pause right now and talk to God about that person. Then pick up the phone and begin the process. The seven steps toward restoring relationships are simple, but they’re not easy. It takes a lot of effort to restore a relationship, so Peter urged us to work hard at it (1 Peter 3:11 NLT).

When you work for peace, you are doing what God would do. That's why God calls peacemakers his children.

Restoring Relationships: Cooperate ~ Rick Warren

“Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody" (Romans 12:18 TEV).

The sixth biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to cooperate as much as possible.

The Apostle Paul said, "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody" (Rom. 12:18 TEV). Peace always has a price tag. Sometimes it costs our pride; it often costs our self-centeredness.

For the sake of fellowship, do your best to compromise, adjust to others, and show preference to what they need. A paraphrase of Jesus' seventh beatitude says, "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family."

Peacemaking is not avoiding conflict. Running from a problem, pretending it doesn't exist, or being afraid to talk about it is actually cowardice. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was never afraid of conflict.

Peacemaking is also not appeasement. Always giving in, acting like a doormat, and allowing others to always run over you is not what Jesus had in mind. He refused to back down on many issues, standing his ground in the face of evil opposition.

Restoring Relationships: Confront the Problem, Not the Person ~ Rick Warren

“A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire” (Proverbs 15:1, Msg).

The fifth biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to attack the problem, not the person. You cannot solve the problem if you're consumed with pinning the blame. You must set your bitterness aside in order to mend your friendship.

You will never get your point across by being cross, so choose your words wisely. A soft answer is always better than a sarcastic one.

In resolving conflict, how you say something is as important as what you say. If you say it offensively, it will be received defensively. God tells us, "A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is" (Proverbs 16:21 TEV).

Nagging never works. You are never persuasive when you're abrasive.

During the Cold War, both sides agreed that some weapons were so destructive they should never be used. For the sake of fellowship, you must destroy your arsenal of relational nuclear weapons, including condemning, belittling, comparing, labeling, insulting, condescending, and being sarcastic.

Paul sums it up this way: "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you" (Ephesians 4:29 TEV).

Restoring Relationships: Sympathize ~ Rick Warren

“A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11 NIV).

The third biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to sympathize with the other person’s feelings.

Use your ears more than your mouth. Before attempting to solve any disagreement you must first listen to the other’s feelings. Paul advised, "Look out for one another's interests, not just for your own." (Philip. 2:4 TEV) The phrase "look out for" is the Greek word skopos, from which we form our words telescope and microscope. It means pay close attention! Focus on their feelings, not the facts. Begin with sympathy, not solutions.

Don't try to talk people out of how they feel at first. Just listen and let them unload emotionally without being defensive. Nod that you understand even when you don't agree. Feelings are not always true or logical. In fact, resentment makes us act and think in foolish ways. David admitted, "When my thoughts were bitter and my feelings were hurt, I was as stupid as an animal" (Psalm 73:21-22 TEV). We all act beastly when hurt.

In contrast, the Bible says that patience comes from wisdom (Prov. 19:11 NIV), and wisdom comes from hearing the perspective of others.

To listen is to say, "I value your opinion, I care about our relationship, and you matter to me." The cliché is true: People don't care what we know until they know we care.

To restore fellowship "we must bear the 'burden' of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others ... Let's please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good" (Rom. 15:2 LB). It is a sacrifice to patiently absorb the anger of others, especially if it's unfounded.

But remember, this is what Jesus did for you. He endured unfounded, malicious anger in order to save you. "Christ did not indulge his own feelings ... as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me" (Rom. 15:3 NJB).

Restoring Relationships: Take the Initiative ~ Rick Warren

“If you enter your place of worship and are about to make an offering, but you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God" (Matthew 5:23-24 Msg).

The second biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to take the initiative.

It doesn't matter whether you are the offender or the offended, God expects you to make the first move. Don't wait for the other party. Go to them first.

Restoring broken fellowship is so important, Jesus commanded that it even take priority over group worship (Matthew 5:23-24 Msg).

When fellowship is strained or broken, plan a peace conference immediately. Don't procrastinate, make excuses, or promise, "I'll get around to it someday." Schedule a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible. Delay only deepens resentment and makes matters worse.

In conflict, time heals nothing; it causes hurts to fester.

Acting quickly also reduces the spiritual damage to you. The Bible says sin, including unresolved conflict, blocks our fellowship with God and keeps our prayers from being answered, besides making us miserable. Job's friends reminded him, "To worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do" (Job 5:2 TEV), and "You're only hurting yourself with your anger" (Job 18:4 TEV).

The success of a peace conference often depends on choosing the right time and place to meet. Don't meet when of you are tired or rushed, or when you could be interrupted. The best time is when you both are at your best.

Restoring Relationships: Talk to God ~ Rick Warren

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? … You want something but don't get it .… You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:1-2 NIV).

The first biblical step toward restoring a relationship is to talk to God before talking to the person.

Discuss the problem with God. If you pray about the conflict first instead of gossiping to a friend, you’ll often discover that God either changes your heart or he changes the other person without your help.

All your relationships would go smoother if you would just pray more about them. As David did with his Psalms, use prayer to ventilate vertically. Tell God your frustrations. Cry out to him. He’s never surprised or upset by your anger, hurt, insecurity, or any other emotions. So tell him exactly how you feel.

Most conflict is rooted in unmet needs. Some of these needs can only be met by God. When you expect anyone - a friend, spouse, another pastor, or family member - to meet a need that only God can fulfill, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and bitterness. No one can meet all of your needs except God.

The apostle James noted that many of our conflicts are caused by prayerlessness (James 4:1-2 NIV).

Instead of looking to God, we look to others to make us happy and then get angry when they fail us. God says, "Why don't you come to me first?"

Relationships Are Worth Restoring ~ Rick Warren

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you ... agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends” (Philippians 2:1-2 Msg).

Relationships are always worth restoring.

Life is all about learning how to love, and God wants us to value relationships and make every effort to maintain them instead of discarding them whenever there is a rift, a hurt, or a conflict.

In fact, the Bible tells us that God has given us the ministry of restoring relationships. For this reason a significant amount of the New Testament is devoted to teaching us how to get along with one another.

The Apostle Paul taught that our ability to get along with others is a mark of spiritual maturity. Since Christ wants his family to be known for our love for each other, broken fellowship is a disgraceful testimony to unbelievers. This is why Paul was so embarrassed that the members of the church in Corinth were splitting into warring factions and even taking each other to court.

He wrote, "Shame on you! Surely there is at least one wise person in your fellowship who can settle a dispute between fellow Christians" (1 Corinthians 6:5 TEV). He was shocked that no one in the church was mature enough to resolve the conflict peaceably. In the same letter, he said, "I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other" (1 Corinthians 1:10 Msg).

"If you want God's blessing on your life and you want to be known as a child of God, you must learn to be a peacemaker. Jesus said, "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God" (Matt. 5:9, NLT).

Notice Jesus didn't say, "Blessed are the peace lovers," because everyone loves peace. Neither did he say, "Blessed are the peaceable," who are never disturbed by anything. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who work for peace"—those who actively seek to resolve conflict.

Peacemakers are rare because peacemaking is hard work, but because you were formed to be a part of God's family, peacemaking is one of the most important skills you can develop.

Unfortunately, most of us were never taught how to resolve conflict, so over the next few days, we’ll consider the steps necessary to resolve conflict.

Becoming Like Jesus is a Slow Process ~ Rick Warren

“This will continue until we are . . . mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him” (Ephesians 4:13 CEV).

Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of growth. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life.

You are a work in progress. Your spiritual transformation in developing the character of Jesus will take the rest of your life, and even then it won’t be completed here on earth. It will only be finished when you get to heaven or when Jesus returns.

At that point, whatever unfinished work on your character is left will be wrapped up. The Bible says that when we are finally able to see Jesus perfectly, we will become perfectly like him: “We can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2 NLT).

Much confusion in the Christian life comes from ignoring the simple truth that God is far more interested in building your character than he is anything else. We worry when God seems silent on specific issues such as “What career should I choose?”

The truth is, there are many different careers that could be in God’s will for your life. What God cares about most is that whatever you do, you do in a Christlike manner (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Colossians 3:17,23).

God is far more interested in who you are than in what you do. We are human beings, not human doings. God is much more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character, not your career, into eternity.

The Bible warns, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. . . . Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you” (Romans 12:2 MSG).

You must make a counterculture decision to focus on becoming more like Jesus. Otherwise, other forces like peers, parents, co-workers, and culture will try to mold you into their image.

Sadly, a quick review of many popular Christian books reveals that many believers have abandoned living for God’s great purposes and settled for personal fulfillment and emotional stability. That is narcissism, not discipleship.

Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: he wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility, and our ultimate destiny.