How to Get Along with Anyone by Understanding Their Spiritual Operating System 

                                                      

"In the past, you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the offspring of disobedience."  Ephesians 2:2 (KSB)

   If you know someone’s operating system, you can learn how to operate with them and that’s the key to getting along with anyone. Just like Android and Apple phones function differently despite both being phones, people operate differently based on their internal systems. Expecting an Android to behave like an Apple will only lead to frustration. Likewise, expecting someone to act outside of their spiritual system causes relational conflict. This concept also applies to computers: whether it’s a PC or a Mac, knowing the operating system is crucial for effective use. Similarly, if you understand how a person thinks, speaks, and behaves what energy they carry and how they view life, you can navigate your interactions more wisely and gracefully.  People's spiritual "operating systems" determine how they live and respond. There are three primary operating systems on earth: the world, the church, and the kingdom. Understanding which one a person operates from can help you manage expectations and foster healthier relationships.

   1. The World System: This system leaves God out. It’s not about nature, the birds or the trees but about a spiritual structure that functions independently of God. When someone lives according to this system, we can’t expect them to behave like someone who walks with God. As Ephesians 2:2 points out, we all once walked in this system governed by worldly values and priorities.

   2. The Church System: This is where God is included. A person in this system integrates God into their life giving Him time, talent, and treasure. Their perspective changes because their operating system now includes divine influence. They're still growing, still learning, but God is now part of their decision-making and behavior.

   3. The Kingdom System: This is where God isn’t just included, He is first. He becomes the center of every area of life. The kingdom system reflects the command in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added.” In this system, we give God our first fruits, not leftovers. Life is structured around Him.

   Whether you're in the workplace, church, or community, you can function with anyone if you understand their operating system. Don’t expect someone in the world system to behave like someone in the kingdom. Know the system, and you'll know how to relate. You’ll find grace, patience, and the wisdom to build unity instead of division. So, ask yourself: How am I operating? And how are those around me operating? When we apply spiritual discernment to relationships, we extend grace instead of judgment, compassion instead of criticism.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  Matthew 6:33

📖 Reflection: Who in your life have you misjudged by expecting them to operate from a system they’re not in?

💡 Action Step: Identify one person you’ve struggled with and ask God to help you see and understand their operating system today.