Peace-Making

 Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12 

“Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse…Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody…Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath…’If your enemy is hungry, feed him;’…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Romans 12:14, 17, 19-21

Peace-making in the way of Jesus is very difficult unless we first offer our lives to God as living sacrifices. Once we realize we belong to God, then the sorting of ultimate justice is no longer in our hands. Jesus purchased our forgiveness with his blood, and Jesus now becomes our standard of how to bless those who persecute us. We are not to take revenge, but rather to feed our enemies and actively overcome evil with good. Peace-making in our families, work place, community, and nation, involves skills, but more importantly, character that is shaped by Christ.

What practical steps of peace-making is Christ inviting us to follow today?

“Lord Jesus, fill me with your love for those who oppose me, for your glory.”