Live at Peace
The message given by Jesus and the apostles is resoundingly clear: Whether our conflicts involve minor irritations or major legal issues, God is eager to display his love and power through us as we strive to maintain peace and unity with those around us. Therefore, peacemaking is not an optional activity for a believer. If you have committed your life to Christ, he invites you to draw on his grace and commands you to seek peace with others. Token efforts will not satisfy this command; God wants you to strive earnestly, diligently, and continually to maintain harmonious relationships with those around you. Your dependence on him and obedience to this call will show the power of the gospel and enable you to enjoy the personal peace that God gives to those who faithfully follow him.
1. Have you made peace with God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, Lord, and King? (PM (a 43-45; see John 3:16; Acts 16:31) If not, you can do so right now by sincerely praying this prayer:
Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I realize that my good deeds could never make up for my wrongs. I need your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins, and I want to turn away from them. I trust you now to be my Savior, and with your help I will follow you as my Lord and King, in the fellowship of your church.
If you have prayed this prayer, it is essential that you find fellowship with other Christians in a church where the Bible is faithfully taught and applied. This fellowship will help you to learn more about God and be strengthened in your faith.
2. Are you experiencing the kind of internal peace you desire? If not, why? (PM @ 46-47; see Isa. 26:3; 32:17; 48:18)
3. Are you at peace with other people? If not, from whom are you estranged? Why? Will you go to seek reconciliation? (PM @ 46; see Rom. 12:18; Matt. 5:23-24)
4. How could this conflict damage your witness or the reputation of Christ? (PM @ 47-50; see John 13:34; 17:20-23)
5. Have you been striving earnestly to resolve this dispute or giving only partial efforts to make peace? (PM @ 51-53; 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:1-3)
6. Read Ephesians 4:29-32. Are you thinking, speaking, or acting in a way that might grieve the Holy Spirit? (PM @ 53)
