Live at Peace with Others

 Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Conflict is a natural occurrence that takes place when there are differences of opinions. Some of these differences are strong enough to create strife and division. Paul and Barnabas had differences of opinion, causing them to go their separate ways. It is possible to live peaceably with all men, even in the midst of strong differences. It becomes more challenging to live at peace with all men when there has been a betrayal of trust or if personal hurt has occurred. We cannot allow bitterness and malice to control relationships, even when conflict involves personal matters.  Conflicts can cause a strain in a relationship that may not be overcome quickly, it may even scar a relationship that may never heal completely. But fellowship need not be broken. History has recorded centuries of division and discord. Wars have been fought and many have died for what they believed in. I don’t claim to understand the nature of wars, the just and unjust, but if it is possible, God desires that we live at peace with one another. Especially among those who are followers of Christ. We are exhorted to “Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor, preferring one another.” (Roman 12:10). It is possible to love without compromising principles or condoning evil. Preferring others is not to agree with them, but it is to allow them to have their own opinions or ideas without dissimilation. We are never going to see eye to eye on every issue, but we can agree to disagree and live at peace with one another.

Peace on Earth

 Luke 2:14, Col 3:15
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men….And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.
The desire for most people is to have peace, freedom from disturbance, absence of conflict, war to be eliminated, and tranquility of mind and heart. Sin in the hearts of humanity is the root that makes lasting peace unattainable. The carnal nature born in man is at war with the nature of God, who is our Peace. Christ came to bring peace to mankind, peace that passes all understanding. But as long as sin remains, war will continue to be part of life. Jesus said that nations will war against nations, and His sword will bring division because sin is at enmity with God. The proclamation made by the angels on the day Christ was born, that this Christ would bring peace on earth. Peace is made available to every man, woman, boy and girl on earth. Through Christ, we can have peace in our heart. The war with sin is over, the blood of Jesus has made the heart clean, and He can rule in our hearts. We now have victory or sin and our way is now God’s way , we have surrendered everything over to God. Our plans, ambition, and desires are now His to rule. The Peace of God brings tranquility when everything else is chaotic. The world around us is looking for world peace, but real peace only comes when Christ is born in your heart, and He controls our destiny and journey in life. 

Put On Love

Col 3:14

…In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Discord can happen between anyone who does not see things in the same way. Often conflict and division happens because of miscommunication or  someone’s actions that are perceived to be wrong or inappropriate. It is not always easy to just overlook things like this and act like everything is ok. Conflict in itself is not wrong, but allowing resentment and harvesting ill will toward others is not conducive to maintaining a close walk with God and seeking to be like Jesus. Paul recognized that we are human and our emotions can get the best of us. Putting on love is done with intentionality, in some cases it is an act of our will in spite of the circumstances. Love will seek resolution and unity. It will even work to love those who are our enemies and seek to destroy us. When love is put on between all involved it will be the perfect bond to keep us together in Christ.

Intentional Kindness

2 Sam 9:3 …Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?…And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph 4:32

In the middle of conflict, or in the midst of frustration, it is not always easy to show kindness. The tendency of human nature when it is hurting from betrayal is to lash out and get even. Being unkind comes from a heart that does not understand the love of God. It is not hard to be kind, but to be kind when trouble surrounds you is a God thing. Human decency teaches us that being kind to others makes for a better world to live in. As Christians, we go beyond human decency and display intentional kindness in the face of being wronged. Many people will show kindness to others, kindness is not exclusive to Christians only, but it an attribute that every Christian should have regardless of the circumstances. How do you act when a business transaction is not going as you think it should? How do you treat those who use you for their benefit? Do you retaliate with unkind words when others despitefully use you? Like I said, it is a God thing to respond with kindness and show forgiveness. Being intentionally kind is often a matter of choice, and comes from a heart that has been shown kindness and forgiveness.

Peace in Conflict

Roman 5: 1 Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

A world without conflict will always evade us. Peace is an illusion that we continue reach out to grasp, but always out of our reach. War and conflict go back to the beginning of time, before the foundations of the earth were created. Satan, the arch angel is heaven stood in opposition to God, exerting his will over the will of God. The root of all conflict begins when man is unwilling to submit to its Creator. Peace is never found when man refuses to believe God and trust that He is Lord of all. Christ came to bring peace. Peace in the midst of conflict. The war and battle may rage all around us, but the God’s peace can abide in the heart of man. Coming to terms with our sin and turning to the one who is able to forgive us of our sin, we are made right in the sight of God, and God who reconciles us to Him gives us peace that passes the conflict of this world. Wars and rumors of war will continue till the end of time, but real peace need not evade us. Reach out to the prince of peace, Jesus Christ, the God of peace. 

Peace Through Christ

Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.-

I don’t understand how there can be peace in the midst of conflict and unrest. The mind is constantly thinking and wrestling with life’s problems. The heart, the seed of our emotions and affections daily dealing with interpersonal relationships that often are made difficult by miscommunication and mistrust. How can one be at peace is such a state of mind and soul? The peace of God is a divine intervention that comes from heaven above. It does not come from any human source or formula. In the midst of war and confusion, the God of creation send His Son to earth to dwell among us and to give us peace. He is the Prince of peace, the everlasting God. Knowing Christ and His forgiveness and love fills the mind and heart with peace that the world can never give. The world does not understand how a person can be at rest when all seems to be going wrong. His peace is our stabilizer, He keeps us in perfect accord and provides peace that only a true Christian can understand. 

Contentment in Life

Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect to want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”-

Contentment in life seems to come when all is going well and everything is at peace in our lives. No conflicts, no stress, the bills are all paid up, and tragedy has not touched our lives. We sit on our porch drinking our favor beverage and contemplate the goodness of God and His blessings. Unfortunately, this is not the real world we live in. Conflicts and stress happens. We don’t always get our way, and things take place in our life’s journey that frustrates or irritates us. The circumstances we face can cause us to complain and grumble. Life is somehow not fair, and bad things are happening when we seek to do that which is good and pleasing to God. Real contentment is a process, it is a willingness to grow and trust God that He is doing what is best for us. Circumstance do not dictate whether a Christian is content or not, As we submit to the will of God, He fills our heart with contentment. We learn that giving it all to Him and resting in the arms of Jesus brings a peace that passes human understanding. Human nature, the natural man, finds contentment in the circumstance of life, but a life committed to God will learn and find contentment in the center of the will of God.

The Lord is My Rock

Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”-

In times when life beats me down and things go wrong, He is my Rock! My stabilizer in a time when life is shaking all around me. We face things in life that are bigger than us. Our resources are limited and our energy is depleted. The waves from the sea are overwhelming. Stress on every hand, conflicts at work, relationship with those we have always counted on, have been washed away. Financial circumstance become heavy when unexpected expenses arise. These are just some of the things that cause us to worry and fret about tomorrow. In our own strength, we fall short, but He is our strength, He is our deliverer, we have a buckler that will shield us from the enemies attacks. The key to deliverance is trust. I will trust Him. He is my Rock, and will be with me until the storm passes by.

Sweet Rest

Psalm 4:8 “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for Thou Lord only, makest me dwell in safety.”- 

There are many things in life that disturb our peace. Sleep often avoids us in the night as we rest our head at the end of a long restless day. The cares of life and fear of what will happen “if” this or that takes place. Anxiety and concern about our children’s choices in life and their relationship with God sometimes weighs heavy on our hearts. Conflict and strained relationships with those we once called our friends find their way into our thinking and cause us to become discouraged. Resting in the arms of Christ is our only refuge from the despondency of our circumstance. Sleep can come when our trust is put in Him that He cares and understands wanting to give us peace in the mist of the storms. Sweet rest knowing that He is in control of our life.