Strive for Peace
Last week was all about conflict management. This week is about loving your enemies.
I gotta admit, I’m not terribly thrilled about either topic. What can I say – I’m human. These are things that in my own strength are difficult. My humanity makes me want to seek revenge – or at the very least lash out at those who seek to hurt me or those I care for. Loving those who hurt me and resolving the conflict in the way God calls me to just isn’t all that easy – unless I seek to resolve it in His strength.
Which brings us to the first verse for this week – is a good one:
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
- Hebrews 12:14 – ESV
Different translations use slightly different words or phrases for the beginning of this verse, and I’d like to examine them.
Strive for peace. (ESV, Amplified)
Pursue Peace (NASB)
Make every effort to live in peace (NIV)
Work at living in peace (NLT)
Follow after peace (KJV, ASV)
Wow… it seems to me that this peace thing isn’t an easy task. It is something that we have to strive for – to work hard at. Something that just isn’t a natural tendency of mankind.
Maybe that’s why it seems so hard to do some days.
Living at peace with everyone around you comes from a heart that is filled with God’s love for everyone around you. A heart that seeks Him above all else.
But there are days that it is more challenging than others. Days where it takes a bit more striving.
This week we will be looking at David’s second opportunity to kill Saul while he was being hunted down by him… and chose to honor God by allowing Saul to live.
In the meantime, let’s work on this whole “pursue peace” thing with those we come into contact with.
I know I need to focus more energy there, how about you?
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