Friday, September 19, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: 1 Corinthians 15

Romans 12:17–18
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Conflict is a part of life. Whether it's at work, in family, or even in church, we're going to bump into disagreements. The real question is not if conflict will come, but how we'll handle it when it does.

In several of the letters from the apostle Paul to early Christian churches, he wrote about living in peace with one another. One example is in our memory verse, Romans 12:17-18, and another is in the closing of his second letter to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 13:11
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Knowing that our ultimate goal in every interaction should be peace, not retaliation, we must determine how to respond to situations where we face criticism, sin, or betrayal with encouragement and harmony.

One way we can do this is to approach these encounters with the same love, grace, and forgiveness that Jesus shows us. The right approach can protect us from "getting screwed." When we don't check our approach, our words and actions can easily make things worse. Too often, we show up frustrated and ready to react, and our response creates even more division.

When we approach conflict with humility, patience, and a heart for peace, we mirror Christ's love. Restoration doesn't always happen overnight, but when we keep that goal in sight, God can use even the most challenging conversations to bring healing.

Questions:
What is God saying to you about the way you handle conflict? Are you more focused on winning or on restoring?

Next Steps:
Take steps toward restoration where they’re needed, always remembering the goal in every conflict isn't winning - it's restoration. Here's a simple framework from the weekend message that can help us live more peacefully with others:

• Bring It Up: Don't avoid the conversation, but also don't attack. Share the issue honestly without blaming.
• Listen: Truly hear the other person out.
• Set Up: Create the right time and place. Big problems need space and patience.
• Sit Down: Be present, not rushed. Avoid quick fixes for complex hurts.
• Solution(s): Work toward a path forward. Remember, this isn't about proving who's right - it's about rebuilding trust.

Prayer:
Father, help me to pursue peace and restoration in every relationship. Keep my words gentle, my heart humble, and my eyes fixed on your love as the model for how I treat others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 12:17-18
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

This post was written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content for the Daily LivingItOut.