# 108 Strive For Unity

The Book of Genesis Day 108 Ge 13:8 So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. 9 "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left." 10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram’s request of Lot is good advice for us in the church today. , “Please, let there be no strife between us, for we are brethren.” Then Abram follows up with this generous offer made to Lot! It’s a good example of not quarreling over non-essentials. There was plenty of land in view from the vantage point of Bethel (God’s house) and Abram, being the senior, had every right to choose the land he wanted, but for the sake of peace, he yielded to Lot. I wonder, are you ready to do the same thing at your next church board or council meeting? I wonder if spouses are ready to do the same thing the next time strife rises up in their marriage. Ro 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” How much more then with your husband or wife? How much more then with your brothers and sisters in the Lord? Paul also wrote about this in his letter to the Phillipians: Php 2:2-9, “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,” And he continues in Php 2:14,15, “ Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, My brothers and sisters, be willing to relinquish to one another in non-essentials for the sake of peace and unity. Remember, the Canaanites are watching. Pray: Lord, help us to be ready to relinquish all the non-essential territories in our lives, knowing that You desire peace and harmony amongst Your children.