From “Growing in the character of a disciple”: Chapter 12 – What it really meant by forgiving others, and what does it involve?
A good technique, when irritated by people, and where we want to avoid the problem escalating or continuing, is to try to see people the way God sees them. God isn’t irritated by people’s accents, opinions or mannerisms or by their peculiar ways. He looks at people more deeply and sees the value and also the potential inside them. In particular, He is keenly aware that that person, whom we may find irritating, is someone for whom Jesus died and who could be saved if they would just repent and turn to Him.
Even between fellow Christians there can be, and frequently is, friction, and tension. This can spoil relationships, not only for the two people concerned, but for a whole church. Apostle Paul came across this in the church in Philippi. Two good women, both of whom were devout and hard working for the church, just did not get along with each other. Paul urged them to ‘agree’ with each other and he asked the rest of the church to help them to do so:
2I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Philippians 4:2-5 (ESV)
