God Uses Imperfect People

God Uses Imperfect People

Christians are some work. Have you noticed? For some reason, we expect that once someone becomes a Christian, their life is supposed to be great, free of conflict and problems. They will never disagree, especially with other Christians. They will never have anger or struggles with selfishness, etc. We seem to think that Christians will not have any problem, especially in getting along with other Christians. Boy! Are we wrong!

From the earliest days of the church, to today, Christians have been a work in progress. No one has been perfect, not even the Apostles. How many times did the twelve Apostles get into a dispute over some issue while Jesus was still there with them? Then after the church started, you would think that the conflict would have ended. After all, Jesus had trained them and breathed on them for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Guided by the Holy Spirit, one would expect that the Apostles would be in perfect harmony in all situations. Not so!

God, in His grand scheme of things does change those who listen to the Gospel and choose to respond to Jesus Christ as Lord. However, He does not make us into cookie cutter Christians. We still retain our individual and unique personalities. As such, we sometimes get into conflicts and misunderstandings with one another.

We do not come out of the baptistery as perfect Christians, but as babies who have growing to do and changes to make over time to become more Christ-like. Our challenge is to grow in our love for God, and let that love change us from the inside out. Being a Christian is a journey, not a destination. The destination is to overcome the challenges and trials of this life and remain faithful in our belief, worship of, and love of God and Jesus Christ, His Son.

In Acts 15, there are two situations where conflict needed to be dealt with. In verses 1-35, Paul and Barnabas had to take a question to the Apostles for discussion to resolve a dispute with Jewish Christians in the churches that they were starting. At the end of the chapter (V. 36-41), Paul and Barnabas get into a very heated argument over John Mark. The argument was so intense that they decide to part company. Barnabas takes John Mark and Paul recruits some other assistants. Sometime later, Paul has reconsidered his attitude toward John Mark and asks for him to come and assist Paul.

As you are working with other Christians, remember that you are still maturing in your walk with God, just like they are and don’t let disagreements or differences separate your unity in Jesus Christ and your fellowship as brothers in the same Gospel.

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