When I first painted this painting for my pastor, he gave it a title. He called it Two Guys Nose to Nose, With Their Noses Out of Joint. I liked that and it’s been its title ever since. It’s based on Matthew 18, where Jesus tells us how to deal with conflict. This passage is a must read for every believer.
I experienced a little conflict this week. I posted a status on Facebook about the way we believers sometimes try to politicize Jesus, which in a sense feels like people trying to create Jesus in their own image. I believe Jesus is above political labels and that we need to submit our wills to Him. Someone took that to mean that we should keep God out of politics, which is so totally not what I was saying. I just want to remind us that God is above politics and that we must submit to Him in ALL things. It was a misunderstanding and I didn’t let it go into a big thing, but it could have. Conflict in life is really inevitable. How we deal with it shows a lot about our faith and relationship with God.
There are a lot of things in this world that can leave us nose to nose with our noses out of joint… many things that divide us, but there is one who gave His life to reconcile us to God, and I believe to each other. We are all the on a level playing field at the foot of the cross, sinners saved by grace.
He said, “They will know you are my disciples by the way you love one another…”
How are you doing with that?
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