Day 23 - Thursday

Day 23

 

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…" Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

 

Paul exhorts us to do all that we can to live in peace with other people around us. This can be easier said than done sometimes, but the law of love that is found wrapped up in the message of the Gospel calls out to us to fulfill it.  What is this law of love?

 

"Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

 

It's our responsibility as people of the light, dressed in Christ, dressed in the armor of God, to live in peace with others.  Conflicts come and problems will arise within relationships, but this is why Paul said, while it's within our power to do so.  It is up to us to do our best, to give what we can give to make things work out.  Then it is up to the other people/person to either accept the process needed to bring peace between us or not.  

 

"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God." Matthew 22:23-24 (TMSG)

 

Our ability to walk in these shoes of peace with God is dependant on how well we walk in peace with other people.  So many people do not realize that our relationship with God is not only vertical up to God and down to us, but also horizontal, as how we relate to others reflects our relationship with God.

 

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20 (NIV)

 

Peace comes between people when we own our part of the problem.  Can we admit our failure, sin, wrong in the situation?  This is our responsibility.  Own it and apologize.  Forgive their failure, sin, wrong, even if they don't ask for it.  Then leave it in their hands.  Can they forgive?

 

It's not our responsibility to make them forgive, but our part is to stand in the place of forgiveness ourselves.  Do all we can to live in peace with others.  And if they choose not to reciprocate, so be it, then we can move on in peace, knowing we've done our part and releasing them to God.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, forgive me of my sins, and the times I've made a mess of things.  Help me be able to forgive those who make a mess in my life.  Let me release them, be brave enough to apologize and seek their forgiveness, but then release them and situation to you.  Thank you for your peace today. In your name, Amen."