Originally posted at: Pursue peace with all people
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest therebe any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Hebrews 12:14-17
We are called to pursue peace with all people. We live in a world that is full of much diversity. We have people from many different cultures and religious backgrounds. Jesus said that broad is the road that leads to destruction and many will find it. But narrow is the road that leads to life and few will find it. The sad truth is that there are many more nonbelievers in the world than there are true believers in Jesus Christ.
But no matter what we are called to pursue peace with all people. No matter if people persecute and stand against us we are still called to love them and pursue peace with them. There is no greater testimony of the love and grace of God then when a true follower of Jesus Christ prays for those who stand against them. All people are simply lost sheep without a shepherd and until people come to true faith in Jesus they won’t have their eyes opened to the truth.
We must understand what a person meditates and fixes their mind and heart on is what will drive the decisions and actions of their lives. The life we live is simply a compilation of all the choices we have made in our lives. When people injure us or offend us we must have the heart and mind of Christ. We must examine what the Lord said upon the cross as people hurled insults at Him. He simply said forgive them Father for they know not what they do. No matter how badly a person has persecuted or injured us we must continue to pray for them. Pray that their eyes and heart be open to the love, truth, and grace of who Jesus Christ is. Once a person’s eyes are truly open to the truth their life will be changed for an eternity.
