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What has God revealed in the Old Testament about disagreement? Well, the short answer is MUCH. The people that God sovereignly wove into Israel’s history were exactly that—people. Like you and me. Fallen like you and me. Fearful like you and me. Desirous like you and me. In need of wisdom like you and me. Deserving of wrath like you and me. 

These four categories that Pastor identified throughout the Old Testament (fear, desire, needing wisdom, deserving wrath) provide something of a matrix through which we do well to view both the tendencies of our hearts and how they influence our disagreements. What is it that you fear that can prime you to be disagreeable? What desires do you have, met and unmet, that puts or could put you at enmity with God and others? Do you agree with God in your need to be wise, or do you content yourself to remain combative in your folly? Do you recognize that your sin and disobedience have inherently earned you the wrath of our holy God? 

Hard but worthwhile questions that ultimately lead us to the central question behind all other disagreement—is the shape of your life in agreement with God? 

If one (or more!) of the above questions illuminated some patterns and tendencies in you like it did me, be encouraged. By the power of the Spirit, we are not only able to see when something is amiss, but we can take tangible steps this week (today even!) to turn in repentance a.k.a. into agreement with God! 

Do you fear?

Take control of your mind’s trajectory and train it instead to cling to the truths and the promises of God’s Word (Col. 3:2; Phil. 4:8).

Have you given control to your desires?

Train “your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1 Pet. 1:13).

Lacking wisdom?

Ask God who provides it “generously and without reproach” and seek it out from God’s Word and wise counsel (Jas. 1:5; Prov. 4:7).

Recognizing the severity of your sin?

Go and confess it to your Father who “is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and...cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” (1 Jn. 1:9) because of what Christ has done.