PURSUE PEACE WITH ALL MEN.

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: PURSUE PEACE WITH ALL MEN.

Hebrews 12:14 KJV
Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

“All men” includes all those within the church, but also those outside the church, even if they are persecuting you. As Jesus said (Luke 6:27-28), “… love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Those are not easy words to obey! They apply to wives who have husbands who verbally abuse them.

They apply to believers who have family members who ridicule their faith or provoke them in an attempt to get them to deny their testimony. They apply to Christian teenagers whose parents are godless and verbally abusive. They apply to Christians who work with people who hate them for their faith, who spread falsehoods about them behind their backs.

Perhaps the most difficult place to apply these words, however, is toward fellow Christians who wrong you. We expect the world to act like the world. When unbelievers are verbally abusive or slander you, you tend to think, “Well, that’s the way unbelievers act!” But, when Christians do that, we’re shocked. We expect that from pagans, but we don’t expect that from fellow Christians! But it happens all the time, and it’s one of Satan’s most effective tools to sideline new believers: Get somebody in the church to spread nasty rumors or to say insensitive things about this new believer. Watch the new believer drop out of the race!

But, rather than dropping out, the author says that we must pursue peace with all men. Pursue is a strong word that means, in some contexts, “to persecute.” It means to go after peace with the effort that a hunter tracks down his prey. It implies concentrated effort. It won’t happen accidentally.

When someone hurts you, your tendency is to withdraw and lick your wounds. Put up a wall of protection around yourself, especially toward that mean person, so that it never happens again. Distance yourself from the one who hurt you and from everyone who believed that person’s cruel lies. Avoid talking to them. But, the author says, “Pursue peace with that person!”

LET US PRAY
May the Lord Jesus Christ help you and me to do his will accordingly in Jesus Name.

Share This Meal
Good Morning Friends

Join Us in Wonder Hour this Saturday at, No 22. D God father lodge beside Railway track ikeja Lagos. 9:00am.