Daily Devotion: 6 Days Til Guatemala

Daily Devotion from Terry at Across All Borders

May 28 - Friendships Tested

Proverbs 10:12 "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs."

Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."

Your humility and patience will be tested on this trip, most intensely by the day in and day out presence of your teammates...some of whom may be your closest friends or even family. The most common testing is just the little things in each of us that annoy one other. The quirks of your teammates will bug you and yours will bug them, but don't let walls divide. Purpose now to love.

If you begin to feel awkward or impatient around another team member, ask yourself this: "Is it just me being irritated by her personality or have I really been hurt by something she said or did?"

If it is just a matter of personality then the responsibility rests on you and the key will be to come before God in brokenness. Daily devotional times with Him, now and during your trip, are essential in drawing from His grace. Ask him to disconnect the buttons that Satan likes to push in you. Repent of all selfish thinking and embrace God's love you and your teammates. Pray for the other team members and remember that they are truly gifts from the Lord. Ask Him to show you ways that you can demonstrate His love by living your life for their benefit while you spend this time with them in Guatemala.

Every problem is not always just a personality clash, however. Sometimes a person will actually hurt or sin against you. For the sake of yourself and the team do not let these things simmer for days, allowing unforgivness or a bad attitude to prevail in your thinking. If someone hurts you, speak to that person alone and ask if hurting you is what they really meant to do.

This is the first step in Jesus' instructions of Matthew 18 and usually a conversation like this is all it takes to restore unity. Most people do not intend to hurt others and, usually, Christians will welcome being told if something they did offended or hurt you. When they respond in sorrow, be quick with your forgiveness. If this approach does not work, please come to me for another perspective and let's work out a resolution. Don't let the spirit of our team be harmed or the group divided.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to grow in love and patience while being used by you on the mission field. Let me have your perspective and unconditional love for my teammates, just as you love each of us unconditionally. You have chosen us together for such a time as this. May all that we do and think be pleasing to you as we walk together in unity.

Terry Carr Bracey
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Across All Borders