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

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

Grazi and Cris Are Getting Baptized!

Graziele / Cris Grazilele (hard to pronounce if you are not a Brazilian) and Cris are getting baptized on Saturday night. Baptism is a big step of faith and these young ladies are ready. Grazi accepted the Lord several years ago when Company C was in it's infancy. She was invited to club by a friend, who has since left, and not long afterwards she opened her heart to the Savior. She is a determined twelve going on twenty year old. When Grazi sets her mind on a task she usually gets it done. Dawn has been teaching her Bible lessons and sewing skills recently and she's noted Grazi's abilities. Grazi plays the recorder in o ur orchestra. Cris is Alexandre's youngest sister. She accepted Christ when her older sister Dani shared her own personal decision a few years back. Cris always has a smile on her face and is a ready helper too. She is quiet but gifted. She is learning to play the violin and is also a part of our growing orchestra. Both of these gi...
2 comments
Read more

Are You Prejudiced?

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ; Ephesians 2:14 In 1967 Detroit exploded in what would be know ever after as, “ The 12th Street Riot ”. As a 14 year old white boy living about an hour from Detroit I was petrified. I didn’t know much about what was going on but I was afraid that my family was going to be murdered. Black people scared me. Why? Ignorance pure and simple. I had grown up in a white community and had never met any black people. There was a black kid in our school but I had never spoken to him. I lived in my own little white world and was happy to do so. My ignorance of the black culture had lead to prejudice and my prejudice had lead me to fear. Prejudice is that decisive determination of guilt or bias that comes before knowledge. One judges before hand. The mind is bent in a certain direction that is impossible to correct. Or seemingly so. God has interesting ways of helping us to face our ignora...
Post a Comment
Read more