Actions that Promote Peace
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
A troubled church doesn’t instantly change. It is a process. The same applies to our individuals lives spiritually. But absolute perfection or maturity doesn’t mitigate living in God’s love and peace. We find that the direction of our lives is more important than the perfection of our lives.
So even though 2 Corinthians ends with an indication of some ongoing issues in the Corinthian church, Paul still says, “rejoice!” We usually relate rejoicing to a victory or the final accomplishment of a state. But Paul turns that on its head by saying rejoice, even while in process.
Paul’s guidelines for being “in process” include, “strive for full restoration.” Don’t settle for a job half-done. Keep forgiving, changing, repenting, restoring. This process requires individual responsibility in the context of community.
His admonition is to “encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” When I read these charges, I am reminded that the time to do what you need to do, what pleases the Lord, is now. You don’t wait for the right feels or some illusive marker in time or progress toward a goal, do it now! Begin now to live the way you would, the way the honors the Lord even while you are in the process of maturity.
When that happens, we can be confident that God’s love and peace will be with us. It is God’s love and peace that in turn enables us to make the spiritual progress that we desire.
Prayer for today… Lord, thank You for Your love and peace. Help us to rejoice as the process of Your work in our lives take place. Strengthen us as we focus on actions that encourage others and promote peace.