What does it mean to have peace in Christ? Is it something to strive for as Christians or are we already equipped with this ability? Let’s look at what the writer of Hebrews had to say:
Hebrews 12:14-15 (ESV)
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;”
Every day we wake up, we have laid before us a myriad of choices: what to have for breakfast, what to wear, how to get to work or school, and so on. But one of the more important choices we make is how we approach each day.
If you maintain a mindset that every day—every breath for that matter—is a gift from God you will undoubtedly approach the day much differently than those who have no thought of things eternal.
In the first verses of Hebrews 13, the writer exclaims for us to continue in brotherly love, recognizing that the strangers we come in contact with might be messengers from God (Hebrews 13:1-2). I have always felt convicted by this as I think back on how many people I have passed by who were down on their luck, and I gave them no regard. It’s so easy for us to forget that we are all created in His image, not just the ones who look like us, dress like us, or talk like us.
Only in a spirit of self-reflective humility can we recognize areas of our life where our walk with God needs to improve. I think God puts people, things, and events in our lives to give us those opportunities to grow where He sees a walk not quite right. It is up to us to recognize these moments and act according to His will for our lives.
Do You Reflect This Peace?
Consider your past few days and your interactions with your fellow man. Not just face-to-face, but through your phone conversations, your posts on social media, your texts and emails. Do they reflect the light of Christ that resides in you? Are you building people up or raising yourself up while trampling others around you?
Do you strive to share love or divisiveness?
We all have a choice every morning when we arise to do good or to do evil. We can choose to perpetuate the polarity and hatred that encompasses our society today or we can be a wellspring of hope and light. We can act in accord with God’s Spirit that resides in us or willfully choose to ignore it and seek our own self-aggrandizing will.
It truly is as simple as asking yourself before you act, “What would Jesus do in my situation?”
I asked my Sunday school class a question once: “If Jesus were to physically manifest Himself in your presence 24/7, would you still act the same way?”
If your answer is “of course not!” (which I believe all of us would agree on this), the next question is, “why must it be different?”
For if you truly believe our Lord is omnipresent, then you must believe He is by your side every hour of every day. Let His peace reign.
