Love And Conflict

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 Another characteristic of this Divine love is that it often involves conflict .

It was so with our Lord. He was the very embodiment of it. He was love itself, and grace and truth flowed continually from His lips. His blessed feet went about doing good, and His hands ministered to the needs and happiness of people. Yet His entire journey through this fallen world was marked by conflict, opposition, and persecution. His mission was to bring peace on earth, but the result was a sword! Why?

Not because He desired it. He would no doubt have preferred to live at peace with all people, as His apostle urges us to do, “so far as it depends on you.” More than that, He was the Prince of Peace! Then why was there opposition, conflict, and even deadly hostility wherever He went?

Because people resisted and rejected His divine and heavenly ministry. They would not receive His correction or His teaching because it exposed and condemned their ways. They would not listen to His voice because they were of their father the devil, and they desired to do their father's works. Therefore, they persecuted Him and sought to kill Him.

This was the reason—not that He wanted it to be so, but it was the result of people's resistance to the beautiful, heavenly, and divine truths He taught. And it is the same today with that truth and with those who embody it.

Jesus Christ living again in His people , as they demonstrate His principles before the world, obey His teachings, and live for the same purposes for which He lived, will produce the same result everywhere. It must be so while humanity remains divided into two groups—the righteous and the wicked, those born of the flesh and those born of the Spirit. One side must yield, or there will be ongoing conflict and struggle.

It was so with the Savior, and perhaps it is so with some of us.

I believe this is often a stumbling block to God's sincere people. Many of them do not like the feeling that their hand seems to be against everyone and everyone's hand against them, or nearly so. They do not like the feeling of isolation. They do not enjoy being compelled to take a course that many professing Christians around them condemn and describe as uncharitable.

As a result, they often examine themselves to see whether they may somehow be mistaken in following the Divine Spirit. They say with Jeremiah, and with the Jeremiahs of every age: “Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land!”

Jeremiah 15:10 They feel like "speckled birds, against whom all the birds around are gathered." They feel this opposition and conflict deeply. But what are they to do?

Very often, when following the leading of the Divine Spirit, it is impossible to avoid such consequences. We have to march through opposing forces. We have to become the object of widespread suspicion.

But what then?

Must we give up?

Must we refuse to walk in the blood-stained footsteps of the Captain of our salvation?

Must we reject the honor of serving in the front ranks of the Lamb's army because of conflict, pain, or persecution?

No, never.

Let those who are being led by the Divine Spirit into paths that involve conflict continue faithfully.

Follow on, brother! Follow on, sister!

There is perhaps no area in which those who desire to live wholeheartedly for God suffer more than this. They continually say, "My friends object." Often these friends are Christians.

People come to see me, or write to me, saying that the Spirit of God has been urging them toward a certain course of action for months or even years, yet they are held back by the opinions and wishes of parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, or Christian friends.

I believe it will be found on the great Day of Judgment that more blessed endeavors have been crushed, more leadings of the Holy Spirit disobeyed, and more promptings of the Spirit suppressed through the influence of so-called Christian friends than through all other influences combined.

“Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Luke 9:59 (ESV, adapted from the account) This remains a common excuse for those whom the Lord calls into more demanding paths of Christian service.

Oh, my friends, I am convinced of it.

Be careful, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and relatives of every kind.

Do not misunderstand me.

Carefully weigh, test, and examine your impressions and desires before God. Go into your prayer closet and lay them before the Lord. Search your own heart. Make sure there is no self-interest, no pride, no desire for recognition, or longing to do something unusual merely for its own sake.

Take all the time necessary to become fully persuaded that it is God's call.

But once you are convinced, then even if fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, or friends object, move forward, my brother, and God will vindicate you.

If, twenty years ago, I had waited for Christian friends to approve and open the door for me, I would still be waiting today. The souls that God, in His infinite mercy, has entrusted to me would never have been gathered.

I did not wait for human approval of my Master's call. Instead, I said: "Lord, if I die trying, I will do it."

And He rarely allows people to perish while pursuing His will. He stands with them and grants abundant fruit from their labor.

A lady said to me recently, "You know my father is a Christian, and I am afraid of going against him."

"Yes," I replied, "that is a proper feeling, and I respect it."

But she was a mature woman, and so I asked, "Is your father as concerned about the interests of God's kingdom as he ought to be?"

She replied, "I dare not say that he is."

"I suppose," I said, "he is growing older and has perhaps lost some of the vigor and enterprise of his younger days, when he wanted to go out and win everyone he could for Christ."

"Yes," she replied, "his zeal for the kingdom of Jesus Christ has greatly declined."

Then I said, "God holds you responsible just as He holds any other person responsible. He does not have one standard for men and another for women. There will not be separate judgment seats because of human traditions. God will hold you accountable for obeying the teaching of His Spirit and the leading of His providence just as much as He would your brother."

"What answer will you give if you refuse? You may find yourself in the position of the man who said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.'"

She replied, "I am afraid I shall."

Now, let us settle this matter, you Protestant Christians who are here.

Because Roman Catholicism has abused the principle that a person may have to leave father, mother, house, or land for Christ's sake, does that mean we Protestants should abandon the principle altogether?

Has it come to this—that a person is only expected to follow Christ when everyone approves, says "Amen," and when doing so appears to secure his own interests?

If that were true, I would give up religion altogether and simply live for my own pleasure.

I once said to a lady, "When you gave yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, you entered into a relationship with Him similar to that of a wife to her husband."

What woman would believe she should obey her father and mother instead of her husband? It would be considered unreasonable. How much less should she obey her father when his wishes directly oppose God's clear leading?

We are to obey our parents in the Lord , but thousands of fathers and mothers are preventing their children from fully serving God.

Oh, what will you say to God when your precious children stand before Him without the harvest they might have gathered and the souls they might have won?

What will you say then?

Why do you hold them back?

Often, the reasons are things people would be embarrassed to admit publicly.

Is it fear of suffering?

In many cases, it is not. But even if it is, did you make an agreement with Jesus Christ when you dedicated yourself and your children to Him that they would never suffer for His sake?

Is it pride?

Is it because you desire for them the approval and praise of this world?

Be careful. God often disciplines His people in the very areas where they place worldly interests above His kingdom.

But you say, "Everyone will be against me."

Perhaps they will.

Let us settle that from the beginning.

Count all such things as loss. Do not allow them to move you.

You say, "It will be a life of conflict until the end."

Perhaps it will. It was so for Him.

You say, "I am so weak."

He knows that completely.

You say, "It hurts so much when people criticise me and speak against me."

Yes, it hurts. But if that is the path He calls you to walk, He will also give you the grace to endure it.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” Matthew 5:11 “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” 1 Peter 4:16 The Lord does not usually show us the entire path ahead. Therefore, we can only move forward one step at a time.

The future may appear uncertain, but once we are fully persuaded that the next step is the one God wants us to take, we should take it and leave the future in His hands.

Come out as Abraham did, not knowing where you are going, and as surely as God reigns on His throne, He will vindicate your obedience. The very things you think you have sacrificed for Him may become part of the reward He gives for your faithfulness.

I have seen many examples of this.

I have known daughters who were turned out of their fathers' homes because they followed the leading of the Spirit of God. They endured persecution, trials, and suffering. Yet when those fathers reached the end of their lives, they often wanted no one else to pray with them except those same daughters.

The way to win the hearts of parents is through a consistent, steadfast, and holy devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you compromise, adjust your convictions to please others, or hesitate when God calls, you may miss the reward.

Do people recognise inconsistency?

Yes, they do.

They quickly say, "That is not genuine religion."

But if you are consistent and wholehearted, God can use that very faithfulness to win the souls of those about whom you are deeply concerned.

Furthermore, a false love shrinks from opposition.

It cannot endure persecution.

One sure mark of false love is that it is always found on what appears to be the winning side—not necessarily the side that will ultimately triumph, but the side that seems popular and successful at the moment.

When truth is honored, respected, and crowned with praise, this false love loudly declares its loyalty.

But when truth is despised, when its followers are few, weak, and poor, then it quietly withdraws its support.

I sometimes think that many who speak loudly about the glory of God and the honor of religion would have struggled had they been placed in the judgment hall with Jesus among the mocking soldiers.

I wonder what their zeal for God's glory would have looked like when it threatened their own reputation.

Many people are enthusiastic when their glory and Christ's glory seem to advance together.

But when the crowd cries, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” John 19:15 Then they become more concerned with protecting themselves than standing with Him.

True love remains loyal to the Lord Jesus in humiliation as well as in triumph.

It stands with Him when He is staggering beneath the cross, just as readily as when the crowds are spreading branches and shouting, “Hosanna!” Matthew 21:9 I fear that many people use the name of Christ merely as a means of advancing their own interests.

May God keep us from being among them.

This false love never willingly goes to prison for truth.

You never find it at the stake.

Before the cost becomes too great, it usually changes sides or alters its position.

It is never found in disgrace.

It is never found standing with Christ when He is in the minority.

It is absent at Golgotha.

It avoids the cross.

Yet it eagerly joins the celebration when Christ appears triumphant.

I often wonder how many of us would remain faithful if times of persecution returned.

How many would endure imprisonment?

How many would stand for the truth while being mocked, ridiculed, and hated by the crowd?

How many would have remained with Him on the road to the cross?

How many would have stood beneath the cross while people mocked Him, spat upon Him, divided His garments among themselves, and shook their heads, saying: “He saved others; he cannot save himself.” Matthew 27:42 How many of us would have remained faithful then?

Yet, as surely as we live, that is the kind of love that will endure the test of the Day of Judgment.

Oh, have you received this love? Love in the darkness. Love in the garden. Love in sorrow. Love in suffering. Love in isolation. Love in persecution. Love even unto death. Do we have this love?

Examine yourselves, beloved, and see whether you are truly in the faith. There is great need for such examinations these days, when there are so many false gospels and so much false teaching.

We hear much about being "complete in Him" from people who may never have truly known Him at all, and who understand its meaning no more than a small kitten lying by the fireplace.

I say again, examine yourselves. Are you truly in the faith? Are you truly in Christ?

For it is no easier now to be a genuine follower of Christ than it ever was.

Furthermore, false love refuses to call things by their proper names.

Consider the many ways in which wrongdoing is excused among professing Christians. Think of the comfortable and self-indulgent attitudes people adopt toward ungodly trades and practices.

What do I mean?

I mean businesses that cannot be used to serve the interests of Christ's kingdom—businesses that prosper by appealing to sinful desires or by encouraging ungodliness.

How politely false love renames such things. How easily it gives respectable titles to practices that harm the bodies, hearts, and souls of people.

And when Divine love speaks against these things, false love responds: "But we must consider our own interests. We have much at stake."

Indeed, you do have much at stake.

And when the Judge rises to defend those who have been harmed and oppressed by such unjust practices, you may discover that what you gained on earth has become a burden too great to bear.

May the Lord have mercy on anyone who makes a living from the sins, weaknesses, or destruction of others.

Leave such practices as quickly as possible.

Separate yourselves from them.

Do not allow yourself to be comforted by the false love that tries to make you feel at ease while participating in wrongdoing. Such a spirit has nothing in common with Divine love. Rather, let us say with Scripture: “O my soul, come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company.” Genesis 49:6 Let us keep ourselves separate from every alliance between light and darkness, truth and falsehood.

“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:11 And remember: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts.”

Malachi 4:1 God is still the same God.

He does not change.

Let us call things by their right names.

Let us face evil honestly.

Let us drive it out of the world—or at least out of the church.

The Lord will test and expose everything.

I can almost hear the warnings of divine judgment approaching. I can see signs of God's displeasure gathering against nations and churches that refuse to repent.

If a nation continues in sin, and if the church refuses to separate itself from practices that dishonor God, it should not presume upon His favor.

Has God treated other nations lightly when they rejected His ways?

Do we imagine that we are less accountable than those who came before us?

Were not the people of Jerusalem judged despite the privileges they had received?

And have we not received even greater light and opportunity?

Are there not similarities between many religious people today and the Pharisees of old?

Did not Jesus condemn those who appeared religious outwardly while exploiting the weak?

Even today, are there not people who speak piously while acting unjustly toward others?

Could not God's words still apply where such conditions exist?

“Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly!” Isaiah 1:4 And is it not still true in some places that: “The prophets prophesy falsely... and my people love to have it so.” Jeremiah 5:31 Perhaps someone says, "Surely we are not that bad."

Then look around.

Observe carefully.

Has it not sometimes become a common saying that some people would rather do business with anyone than with a professing Christian?

And sadly, has there not sometimes been reason for such criticism?

Should we be surprised when unbelievers mock the church if Christians do not consistently demonstrate honesty and integrity?

Can we say that every business transaction is conducted fairly?

Do people always charge what is just and reasonable?

Or do many take advantage of others whenever the opportunity arises and then call it acceptable?

Whether the amount involved is small or large, taking unfair advantage of another person is still wrong.

God places extortion among serious sins.

May the Lord help me to live according to His Word: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4 May I have the love that refuses to take unfair advantage of my neighbor simply because I have the opportunity.

May I never dishonor the precious name of Jesus Christ while claiming to be one of His followers.

It is time for this false and self-serving love to be removed.

The first and most essential principle of true love is righteousness.

There is no true love apart from righteousness.

If your love is incompatible with righteousness, it is not from God.

If God has shown you something in your life that is wrong, then say: "Lord, let Your light shine fully upon it. I am grateful that You have revealed it while there is still time to change. Bring Your knife to it. Cut it away, even if its roots run deep into my heart. I want it removed completely."

Will you do that?

Will you allow God to make you truthful, upright, and clean?

Will you allow Him to make you more like Himself?

Will you be filled with His pure and holy love toward God and toward all people?

This is what the Lord desires for you.

This is why He sent His Son.

Not to provide a superficial way into heaven while leaving us unchanged, but to transform us into the people He intends us to be.

And He is able to do it.

The Great Physician is willing.

He has enough love.

Enough power.

Enough grace.

Trust your whole heart to Him.

Will you allow this Divine love to be formed within you?

It will make you willing to suffer.

Willing to endure hardship.

Willing to bear shame, contempt, and persecution.

It will make you willing to do all that human strength can do and endure all that human strength can endure so that the purposes for which Christ came may be accomplished and the progress of His glorious kingdom may advance.