God Is Looking For Peace Seekers!
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
In Psalm 34:14, the Psalmist tells us regarding peace: “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
Unity in the church, the home, and the community are both “good and pleasant.” King David said, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). Christians are to be seekers of peace, and not promoters of ill will. We should strive to be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Seek Good For Brethren
Love for God and for one another will lead us to seek the best interest of the brethren. Peter said, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).
Hear And Obey The God’s Truth
As children of God, we must hear and obey our heavenly Father. We must accept whatever He has taught in His Word. The same truth applies to all persons alike, to those within His spiritual family as well as to those outside. The Bible is the authority which is binding in heaven and on the earth and it will one day judge each one of us (Matthew 16:19; John 12:48 cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Conflicts Will Arise
We know that from time to time problems of conflict will arise to give us concern. Out of our love for the truth and souls of people, we should seek to deal with these problems fairly and sincerely. We always want to do what is right (Proverbs 15:9; Proverbs 21:21; Matthew 5:6; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22).
As we deal with these problems we should ask, “What are the facts in the case, and not hear-say?” If two parties are involved, have we learned the facts first-hand from them? Do both give reliable reports?
Conclusion:
By inspiration, James gives us inspired instructions concerning conflicts. “Speak not evil one of another, brethren” (James 4:11). In earlier verses he describes the working of heavenly wisdom: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:17-18).
When biblical wisdom and principles are applied to situations of conflict, peace and harmony should be the result.
In our world of war, violence, and turmoil, God is looking for peace seekers!