If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:18 – Live at peace with everyone in your life. If that was the fullness of this command then we’d all be living in opposition to this command of scripture. For even if we stayed in that position of always seeking to live at peace with everyone, we have no control how the people around us are going to behave towards us and if they deem we are at peace with them. Thankfully the command of scripture isn’t as straightforward as we must be at peace with everyone. Certainly our aim ought to seek out reconciliation wherever that is needed and to give apologies whenever that is needed. As far as it is up to us on our end of the relationship we are commanded to seek peace with all, and that is where the “so far as it depends on you” comes into help us remain faithful. You can’t control if people will accept your apologies and you can’t make someone reconcile if they refuse to do so. Meaning there may be situations where we are not going to live at peace with people because the other person is refusing peace. In that situation, God calls us to do everything on our part to be at peace with them, and if they refuse our efforts that’s not on us but them. So yes, thankfully we have that “out” of having to be at peace with everyone since we can’t control their responses…but we must remember we are still called to pursue peace with all as far as our efforts can take us. That means we must say the apology even when we don’t want to and that means we must have that difficult conversation even if we’ve strategically avoided it for years. If the reason we are in tension and brokenness with someone is because of our refusal to pursue peace with them, know that sin is on us and a change needs to take place. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3435
Question To Ponder: Why would God make such a big deal about us pursuing peace like this?
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