Seeking Peace
(NKJV) Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
I normally focus on love and joy, but with so much unrest in the world I began to wonder about the root of such chaos. Surely the lack of peace begins early—it does not spring forth full grown.
We have all known people who cannot live in peace. Generally such a person literally seethes with anger. There is no reasoning with such an individual, and their justification is “you shouldn’t have made me so mad.”
I find myself wondering what would have happened if, upon first displaying such unreasonable hostility, the parents had quashed the temper tantrum of their small child. Would that person have learned to live in peace rather than create chaos?
The scripture says we are to pursue peace. In other words, peace does not just happen, we have to seek after it.
And did you know we are to put on holiness? Since we have no righteousness, or right standing with God, apart from what we receive through Jesus, it is necessary for us to put on the garments of holiness.
If our anger provokes us to fits of temper and even rage, then we are not pursuing peace or holiness, without which no one will see God. The scripture goes on to say if we do not seek peace a root of bitterness can spring up, through which many will be defiled. You see, it is not just the person displaying such fits of anger that is damaged, but those subject to repeated assaults can become bitter and resentful.
May we go before God each day, seeking the strength to live according to His good will. If we are angry, may God give us a spirit of peace and reconciliation. And if we are resentful, may God give us a spirit of forgiveness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Seeking Holiness 