June 20th 2021
If It Is Possible, As Far As It Depends On You, Live At Peace With Everyone.
Romans 12:17-18 (NIV)
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
In our country, today there are many factions, people who profess a lifestyle of their own choosing, which reflects a very narrow view of life, and they demand that everyone else MUST bend their beliefs to fit with their rigid view! This is a view that is formed by members of mankind who believe that they, and only they should be catered to by everyone else. Such a view of life is NOT consistent with a belief in the God of the Bible, as modeled by the life of Jesus Christ, when He walked this earth as a man. In the selected verse, Paul is trying to describe the view a follower of Jesus should be able to present and live by! Note, the personalization that Paul is emphasizing here, when he writes, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Disagreements require at least two people, who choose to take a different view of a situation. If a member of mankind is sane and stable there can be no disagreement, until another person disagrees with your view, and decides to voice it, in a disagreeable manner. It is okay to disagree with someone else, if you can do it without being disagreeable! A previous pastor of the church of my choice often made this statement during meetings, when some disagreement came to the surface. Jesus often disagreed with His disciples, when He still walked this earth, and He discussed with them how to resolve the problems they encountered. Disagreement is not a sin, but showing anger is! Jesus lauded those who tried to keep the peace in the Beatitudes. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9). Jesus said, “they will be called sons of God.”
The best resolution to disagreement is found in a loving attitude, and such an attitude is only possible through a connection to Jesus Christ. In one of those teaching encountered Jesus told His disciples (us) to love our neighbors. Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40). Notice that Jesus starts with first loving God, before it is possible to love our neighbors. It seems many people today want to be confrontational and seem very willing to become violent and act out their frustration by lashing out, such as often shows itself in such things as road rage. Paul wrote about vengeance, and that as disciples we should not try to avenge the poor actions of others, but leave it to God, and lay it at the foot of the cross. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
Paul wrote to the early church members about offering the work you must perform, as a tribute to the Lord, and to think of your work as being performed for Him, not for the earthly possessions your work may bring to you. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24). The pressures related to doing your work may be reduced by offering your labors over to Jesus and allowing Him to share in your burdens, or your yoke, which He has promised to do.
Paul wrote about this ability to present our requests to God through prayer. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7). Paul says, “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then Paul further says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Most of us are seeking a peaceful countenance about us, and it may be possible if we “trust in Jesus.”
John gave us some good advice too about becoming children of God, through acceptance of the grace Jesus earned for us. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1John 3:2). John told us of a miracle that occurs when we accept the grace from Jesus, when John wrote, “we know that when he appears, we shall be like him.” Did you get that message, please try to believe it, even though it is too amazing to comprehend for us sinners, but it says, “when He appears, we shall be like Him!” Imagine, if you can, that when Jesus appears, we will appear to be like Him. The writer of Hebrews tries to make this miracle seem understandable for us. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
Are you waiting on the Lord’s return, and have no doubt that it will happen? Your salvation has been assured, not by anything you have done, or will ever do, but by what Jesus did in your stead. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:2-4). When you accepted the grace from Jesus, you died to this earthly lifestyle, and became a child of God, and when Jesus appears you will look like Him! That is a promise from Jesus, now that is a good reason to be at peace in this world!
Jesus knew the fate that awaited Him, and He prayed to His Father in heaven to take away this terrible method of death from His future. However, Jesus did plan to submit to the plan if it could not be changed. Jesus left His disciples and went out and prayed for mercy from His Father in heaven. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
You are one of Jesus’ disciples, do you ever fall asleep when it is time to be in support of Jesus? Is Jesus asking us if we are sleeping in this world, while it heads into oblivion in a search of worldly stuff to the point that you are too tired to stay alert and lend a conscious effort to improving this world by telling someone how having Jesus in your life has improved it? Salvation is a personal achievement as souls are won, one at a time. True peace in this world only comes to those who have taken Jesus into their heart. To Know Him is to love Him, and I do! This is a paraphrase of a line from a hymn you may recognize. Can you introduce Jesus to someone who needs to come to know Him? Wake up, the world needs you to be alert!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 12:17-18 (NIV)
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
In our country, today there are many factions, people who profess a lifestyle of their own choosing, which reflects a very narrow view of life, and they demand that everyone else MUST bend their beliefs to fit with their rigid view! This is a view that is formed by members of mankind who believe that they, and only they should be catered to by everyone else. Such a view of life is NOT consistent with a belief in the God of the Bible, as modeled by the life of Jesus Christ, when He walked this earth as a man. In the selected verse, Paul is trying to describe the view a follower of Jesus should be able to present and live by! Note, the personalization that Paul is emphasizing here, when he writes, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Disagreements require at least two people, who choose to take a different view of a situation. If a member of mankind is sane and stable there can be no disagreement, until another person disagrees with your view, and decides to voice it, in a disagreeable manner. It is okay to disagree with someone else, if you can do it without being disagreeable! A previous pastor of the church of my choice often made this statement during meetings, when some disagreement came to the surface. Jesus often disagreed with His disciples, when He still walked this earth, and He discussed with them how to resolve the problems they encountered. Disagreement is not a sin, but showing anger is! Jesus lauded those who tried to keep the peace in the Beatitudes. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9). Jesus said, “they will be called sons of God.”
The best resolution to disagreement is found in a loving attitude, and such an attitude is only possible through a connection to Jesus Christ. In one of those teaching encountered Jesus told His disciples (us) to love our neighbors. Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40). Notice that Jesus starts with first loving God, before it is possible to love our neighbors. It seems many people today want to be confrontational and seem very willing to become violent and act out their frustration by lashing out, such as often shows itself in such things as road rage. Paul wrote about vengeance, and that as disciples we should not try to avenge the poor actions of others, but leave it to God, and lay it at the foot of the cross. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
Paul wrote to the early church members about offering the work you must perform, as a tribute to the Lord, and to think of your work as being performed for Him, not for the earthly possessions your work may bring to you. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24). The pressures related to doing your work may be reduced by offering your labors over to Jesus and allowing Him to share in your burdens, or your yoke, which He has promised to do.
Paul wrote about this ability to present our requests to God through prayer. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7). Paul says, “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then Paul further says, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Most of us are seeking a peaceful countenance about us, and it may be possible if we “trust in Jesus.”
John gave us some good advice too about becoming children of God, through acceptance of the grace Jesus earned for us. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1John 3:2). John told us of a miracle that occurs when we accept the grace from Jesus, when John wrote, “we know that when he appears, we shall be like him.” Did you get that message, please try to believe it, even though it is too amazing to comprehend for us sinners, but it says, “when He appears, we shall be like Him!” Imagine, if you can, that when Jesus appears, we will appear to be like Him. The writer of Hebrews tries to make this miracle seem understandable for us. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28)
Are you waiting on the Lord’s return, and have no doubt that it will happen? Your salvation has been assured, not by anything you have done, or will ever do, but by what Jesus did in your stead. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:2-4). When you accepted the grace from Jesus, you died to this earthly lifestyle, and became a child of God, and when Jesus appears you will look like Him! That is a promise from Jesus, now that is a good reason to be at peace in this world!
Jesus knew the fate that awaited Him, and He prayed to His Father in heaven to take away this terrible method of death from His future. However, Jesus did plan to submit to the plan if it could not be changed. Jesus left His disciples and went out and prayed for mercy from His Father in heaven. "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
You are one of Jesus’ disciples, do you ever fall asleep when it is time to be in support of Jesus? Is Jesus asking us if we are sleeping in this world, while it heads into oblivion in a search of worldly stuff to the point that you are too tired to stay alert and lend a conscious effort to improving this world by telling someone how having Jesus in your life has improved it? Salvation is a personal achievement as souls are won, one at a time. True peace in this world only comes to those who have taken Jesus into their heart. To Know Him is to love Him, and I do! This is a paraphrase of a line from a hymn you may recognize. Can you introduce Jesus to someone who needs to come to know Him? Wake up, the world needs you to be alert!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|