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1997-03-21 - Peace
There are a lot of places today where there is a lack of peace. In our homes.
In our churches. In our workplaces. Spouses fight over child-raising or taking
out the garbage; relatives battle over possessions of deceased family members.
Friends bicker over the trivial and the deep. Misunderstandings, pride, or
love of power cause friction in relationships. This is pretty normal stuff.
But to God, peace is pretty important:
Mat 5:9 (NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons
of God.
God wants us believers to live in peace with all people, when possible.
Heb 12:14 (NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to
be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
In fact, peaceful relationships are inextricably linked to our Christian
witness:
John 17:23 (NIV) I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as
you have loved me.
When nonbelievers look at us Christians, and see us bickering among ourselves,
is it any wonder they don't want to be a part of us, that they consider us
hypocrites?
Yes, doctrinal basics are important. However, we can discuss them civilly
and lovingly. And there are some matters that are not essentials; they are
surface issues, expendables. Why spend our time arguing over these things,
when we could better spend that time advancing the Kingdom, and ministering
to people?
Think about the relationships in your life, that are troubled. What have
you got to lose, by trying to reconcile, by taking the first step? If you
are rebuffed, God will reward you eventually, if not here on Earth. And who
knows -- perhaps that person is just waiting for you to make the first move!
So much bitterness and heartache can be avoided and overcome, by living
peaceably, by overlooking little faults. I can almost guarantee that when
you get to the end of your Earthly life, you will so glad that you reached
out, that you tried to repair relationships.
Dear Father, please help us to live peaceably, to follow in the footsteps
of our Prince of Peace. Help us to be peacemakers, and while never watering
down doctrine, help us to remember, that those we disagree with, are valuable
to You -- that You sent Your Son to die for them also. Enable us to see each
other through Your eyes, and to treat each other as You would. In Jesus'
name, amen.
Jan
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