Live At Peace

Good Morning,

Romans 12:18 (NIV)
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 (NLT)
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

I must thank my friend Alan for forwarding this along today, by the way, because it really sort of hit home with me...and I'm sure it will for many others, as well.

Do we hear what is being said in this very short verse of Scripture? It isn't only saying that we ought to do all possible to "live at peace with everyone," and that also means, lest we miss it, those in and out of fellowship with God. But, well, that's a different message, I think. These few words are saying much more than that, if we care to look more closely and allow God to speak to us through them.

We also have a warning here. Well, sort of. We are exhorted to live in peace with all of mankind as far as it depends on each of us, of course. We are to do everything in our power to be peaceful with all people. This is evident and obvious, certainly, in these words. However, something that I hear in reading and thinking about these words is that there are dire consequences if we DON'T hear and understand what Paul wrote.

You see, much too often we...Christian brothers and sisters...don't "live at peace" with even one another! We argue about this and get on each other about that and allow our feelings to get in the way of anything that could even be construed as being at peace. I think that the enemy hates this verse of Scripture. Now, of course, he hates pretty much all Scripture, but this one, if we would heed what we read, would put a serious crimp in the devil's work here among us. The last thing that Satan wants is for people to be at peace with one another. Argument, fighting, disagreement, and divisiveness are the attitudes and lifestyles that he would love to see at work in the world. Especially among Christians, who ought to know better.

So, you disagree with me about ____________ (fill in the blank). And, in that disagreement we allow arguing between us. Now, I don't mean just a discussion about something which is helpful and educational, but real animosity between us because we don't see eye to eye about it. The argument we have escalates and, eventually, divides us so much that we cannot really fellowship together any longer. Well, we "fake it" at services, of course, for the benefit of the pastors and the rest of the congregation. But when we leave the doors of the building, you go your way and I go mine, and we do NOT have peace with each other. This divisiveness is exactly the kind of thing that the enemy loves to see. He doesn't even have to do much to cause it, really, just sort of give a little nudge to one of us so that we let the discussion become argument which causes us anything but peace.

Now, this verse says...very clearly..."If it is possible, as far as it depends on you," or, "Do all that you can." I ask you, "Is it possible for us to live in peace with one another even though we might disagree on some point, or even many points?" and further, "Is there anything I can do that will help us live in peace with each other even though we might be diametrically opposed on some issue?" I know, pretty easy questions to answer "correctly" aren't they? Of course it's possible for us, and for any thinking, logical adults to live in peace, even in spite of differences of opinion. Certainly there are things that we can do, each of us, to truly live in peace with each other, no matter that we might have some opposing views on things.

You see what God is saying this morning? Can we hear Him speaking to us through this verse? Are we willing to listen and to be obedient to what He's said here? Or, conversely, are we just too darn pig headed to see what He wants us to see? Do we refuse to listen to Him because we simply refuse to get along with someone who things differently than we do? Will we simply not be obedient to this verse because, well, we will not agree on some things and if we're obedient someone might thing that we're giving in to our principles?

Do I agree with you on everything under the sun? Do you agree with me on every issue on this planet? Of course not. But, if we wish to live at peace with one another...not to mention the further issue of living at peace with EVERYONE...then we simply have to make the decision to do the possible and not let anything get in our way of truly loving one another and allowing peace to reign in our lives.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David