Be at Peace with One Another

(2) Peace with one another

“…be at peace with one another."  Mark 9:50  

If there is one thing we need in the world today, it is peace.  Peace among nations, peace within our nation, peace among families, peace among co-workers, peace in the city, peace in the small town.  Peace.  But where will it come from?

Romans 5:1 - …we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you….

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace….(also see vs.16-32 – “these things”)

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (also see vs. 12-17 for context)

So, how can we fulfill the command: “…be at peace with one another?”  First of all, be at peace with God.  He is the one who is our peace and the one who had destroyed the barriers between Him and us.  “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14-16)

Question:  Does peace with one another mean absence of conflict? Is it more than truce?

Other scriptural admonitions about us and peace:

Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Romans 12:18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

Romans 14:19  So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

2 Corinthians 13:11   Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

1 Thessalonians 5:13  and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.

Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.

Prov.16:7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

 

Quotes from “The Practice of Godliness” by Jerry Bridges   Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1983.

“…peace should be a hallmark of the godly person, first because it is a Godlike trait: God is called the God of peace several times in the New Testament…..He is the author of both personal peace as well as peace among men. Peace should be part of our character also because God has promised us His peace, because He has commanded us to let peace rule in our lives and relationships, and because peace is a fruit of the Spirit and therefore an evidence of His working in our lives.”  (155-56)

“We cannot have peace within or peace with other people until we first have peace with God.”  (156)

“The pursuit of peace does not include an easygoing, peace-at-any-price kind of attitude; it does not include capitulating to wrong or injustice just for the sake of maintaining appearances. That kind of behavior often leads instead to strife within ourselves. The conflicts that are disturbing our peace with others must be courageously but graciously faced and dealt with. Pursuing peace does not mean running away from the causes of discord.” (162)

“I am convinced that there would be much less disharmony and conflict among believers if we constantly kept in mind that we are members of the same body….we have failed to understand and obey the biblical imperative to ‘make every effort to do what leads to peace; ” (163)

“…we must recognize that the cause of discord often lies wholly or partly with us. We must seek a genuine spirit of humility about our own responsibility rather than entirely blaming the other person.” (163)

“We must take the initiative to restore peace. Jesus taught that it makes no difference whether you have wronged your brother or he has wronged you. Either way, you are always responsible to initiate efforts toward peace (see Matthew 5:23-24 and 18:15). If we are serious about intently pursuing peace, we won’t be concerned about which of us is the offending party. We will have one goal: to restore peace in a godly manner.” (164)