Many times we view conflict on a purely horizontal level.  This person did that to you or that person is doing this.  But, this podcast cuts through to these external realities to what’s in us and what emerges when we’re squeezed (and we all will be).  Search your heart.  Where do conflicts come from?  Don’t they come from desires that rage within you?  (James 4:1)

I love how this was spelled out in the Truth in Love podcast this week.

“I think the key to having the right attitude [in the midst of conflict] towards the other person is having the right attitude towards Christ.  If you see yourself as the chief of sinners and you’re daily marveling that God shows you mercy, then, when someone sins against you or you see things building that — you get squeezed that grace is going to come out rather than law and wrath.  And so, it’s primarily your attitude toward the Lord and having a gracious disposition based on the Gospel; because, as two sinners living together there will be tension.  There will be this build up you’re describing and you’re going to get squeezed… But, it’s what inside of you that’s going to come out when you’re squeezed and since you don’t know when the squeezing is going to happen, you want to be very careful in your own walk with the Lord.”  – Jim Newheiser

(from the 1:44-2:48 time frame of this clip)