Skip to main content

Peaceful Living

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace (Romans 14:19)

Are you a scrapper? Many Americans are. Here in Brazil Americans are often viewed as fighters or even bullies. When I first heard this I was a bit put off. I always vied us as peace-keepers. Either the peace is kept or we kill everyone! Oops. Is America a peaceful nation? I guess that it depends on which side of the gun barrel you find yourself.

Paul says that we are to "follow after" peaceful things. That means to "pursue or chase after" them. The other day I did that. I chased something. It was't peace, however. A weirdo cut me off in traffic and then had the gall to be mad at me for staying on his bumper for a block or two.

I praise the Lord that my van is not equipped with heat-seeking missals. If it were all of the Boom-Box bums, Maniac Motorcyclists and Cut-off Clowns would pay dearly. Of course I NEVER do any of those stupid thing.

Was I chasing peace? No. I wanted to let that guy know that he had cramped my style. He had invaded sacred territory, that 100 yards in front of my tank... er van. I was chasing my selfishness.

Pursuing peace means that I let my offenders live to see another day. It even means that I don't see them as "offenders" but as needy souls who need the Savior.

Pursuing peace goes against my grain. That's why Paul mentions it. This reference is the second in his letter to the church in Rome. The other is found in chapter 12 verse 18, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Thanks Paul but I really didn't want to hear that!

Do you know what verse that I was memorizing when that dear soul entered my holy space? Romans 12.19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Don't tell me that God doesn't have a sense of humor or I'll... love you to death!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tottering!

I was watching my one year old grandson, Brandon, today. He had on some baggy little shorts, weird flip-flops over his socks, and he was tottering. It made me think about how I often feel these days. Funny how that when we are little and "innocent" and tottering in our baggy pants, with our little potbelly sticking out from under our t-shirt we look precious. When we are older and tottering in our low slung trousers and the same potbelly, we looks pathetic! I guess that the two drastically opposite points of view are based on the viewer's chronological perspective. Brandon is growing and I'm dying. He is cute because the little guy has a lot to learn and we love to see him progress. The old guy has already had his chance at learning and what he is progressing toward is not quite so much fun to ponder. When I have these weird thoughts I praise my God because He never lets go of my hand whether a tottering little guy or an old one. And I found this verse to prove my po...
Post a Comment
Read more

What Are You Worth?

What are you Worth?  Have you ever thought about what you are worth? In investing circles there is a term used to gauge this exact question, it's called Net Worth. You take all of your assets, like property owned, funds in your bank account, clothes, jewelry, car, etc.. You total all of these things. You then take everything you owe, like mortgage, car loan, and credit card debt, and you subtract these items from the first total. This gives you your net worth. That number represents where you are financially. Most people never stop to think about this number because they don't understand anything about it. They never have two nickels to rub together. They live from hand to mouth and know (or at least believe) nothing will ever change so, they fall into the "daily grind" mentality. Psalm 49 should be a great encouragement to such as these. The sons of Korah write about them. These sons write about all of us. They call all people everywhere to listen to their wisdom. Bo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Church Isn't a Place

  Many times we say, I'm going to church on Sunday. What some fail to understand is that "church" isn't a building. I remember our pastor saying, "the church is an organism, not an organization." He was teaching us the Bible truth about the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the body, and the church is his body on earth. Another pastor once said, "God's hands have human fingers." This is a difficult concept for some to grasp, pun intended. However, it is important to understand that God accomplishes his work through human beings. He uses us, the church, to do his will and work. It's not that if we don't do his will that he is stymied. But he does use willing servants. To be in the church, one must be a part of the family. You cannot be in the church if you don't have the Savior. The church is not for the lost; it is for the edification of the saved. The lost can come and hear the message of salvation. But the church is made up of t...
Post a Comment
Read more