09_Let there be no strife between us. Gen 13: 3-11 And he went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there previously; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. 6 And the land could not support both of them while living together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are relatives! 9 Is the entire land not before you? Please separate from me; if you choose the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.” 10 Lot raised his eyes and saw all the vicinity of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt going toward Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself all the vicinity of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. So they separated from each other. Jim Elliott, the martyred American missionary who gave his life in 1956 while evangelizing among the Auca Indians in the jungles of Ecuador, penned these famous words: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” These words resonate deeply when we consider how to navigate conflicts and disputes in a way that honors God. Conflicts arise whether we want them or not. They occur in families, workplaces, and even within the church. Genesis 13 records a quarrel between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot over pasture land for their flocks. Both men had prospered and needed more space for their livestock. Abraham, the senior and the heir to the promised land, had every right to claim the best land and dictate terms. Yet his response was marked by humility, grace, and faith in God. When disputes arise, our reactions reveal much about our hearts. Abraham’s response to this conflict shows his anxiety to please God and keep love in his relationship with Lot. First, Abraham recognized an essential truth: they were brothers. He reminded Lot, “We are close relatives; let’s not quarrel.” For Abraham, their relationship was more valuable than his personal rights. How much more are believers united in Christ! We are called to live in peace and love with one another, according to the unity of the one Spirit that we all share. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Peace is not merely the absence of conflict