Peacemakers
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace, and things by which one may edify another (Romans 14:19).
It is God’s desire that His people enjoy His peace and live in harmony with one another. In Romans 14:19 Paul encourages us to “pursue the things which make for peace”. It is an interesting verse because it suggests we encourage peace by doing things: by being busy. But the idea of pursuing is not chasing, but following. The Lord Jesus was always active in service, often to the point of exhaustion. When I get tired, I get irritable. But the Lord didn’t. He was the “Prince of peace”, and we learn to know and enjoy peace by following Him. The Lord’s life seemed one of unrelenting pressure as He worked ceaselessly to demonstrate His love and grace in a needy world. He did this whilst being opposed, persecuted and rejected. But the Lord brought His peace into every circumstance.
I love to read Mark chapters 4 and 5. In these chapters, we see the Lord stilling the storm with the words, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39). We love to see Legion at peace, “sitting and clothed and in his right mind” (Mark 5:15) and to hear Jesus say to the woman, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Mark 5:34). Then the Lord calmed Jairus’ heart with the words, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Mark 5:36) before filling his heart with joy when his daughter was restored to life. The Lord never avoided stormy circumstances: He brought His peace into those. circumstances.
We first knew “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1), and we learned that “we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Romans 5:2). This enables us to live in peace before Him. Prayer is the means by which we practically experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding”. This is the peace which guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). As we enjoy peace through faith and prayer, we will seek those things which promote peace in our families, our fellowship and amongst our fellow human beings.
We do this by being spiritually minded, not earthly-minded. Cares and riches create worry but “to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). Peace is one of the beautiful characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, and He enables us to enjoy and transmit this peace in our lives: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” (Galatians 5:22). We also need to act in the wisdom that is from above: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those that make peace” (James 3:17-18). It is by being gracious with one another that we fulfil our responsibility to endeavour “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). And we should always seek to be peacemakers:
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
May God’s peace fill our hearts to calm our days and powerfully witness to our Saviour.
