pramsay posted on May 31, 2007 02:55 1502 views
Running Like Crazy for Peace

Huffing and puffing, tired and exhausted, he slumps on to a bench. He almost lost it. The thing was running like crazy and he was chasing after it, terrified it would run right out on to the street and become history with one belated screech of the brakes. But thankfully his pursuit was not in vain. The tragedy of a lost pet was averted. Have you ever been on such a pursuit when you put everything on the line except your own morals and integrity to save or salvage something that is in jeopardy of being lost?

The writer to the Hebrews said:

Strive for peace with everyone,
and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14

The word for ‘strive’ simply means to chase after, run with rigor and persistence. Many run for different causes. A runathon for this and relay for that – most of which are all very good causes. Have you ever run for peace? Not world peace but peace and harmony in your relationship with others? The metaphorical image is of one pursuing with alertness something that is being hunted. The calves in the legs (gastronemius) and the biceps femoris (hamstrings) are straining as the galloping legs carry the body in the pursuit. The eyes are darting here and there and the head is making quick moves as you try not to miss one clue in your search.

My Christian responsibility is to pursue peace with every single person – Christian and non-christian and to do it without violating the Scriptures or compromising holiness. Any unregenerate person can cause division. Any carnal believer can cause tension and drive a wedge in deeper. You don’t have to be walking close to the Lord to add momentum to dissension or to jump on a bandwagon that hopes to get the upper hand in a dispute. You don’t have to be particularly gifted to wrap knives and daggers in soft-sounding, subtle words. You don’t have to be overly sharp to use cutting language.

In dealing with people who are not saved, you don’t have to have much Spiritual wisdom, Godly discernment or gentleness to get their backs up against the Gospel. My Christian responsibility is to pursue peace with every person. There is a difference between stating the truth and being provocative. There is a world of difference between being honest and upfront with someone and being irritating, condescending, aggressive, aggravating and abrasive.

But what about the case where the other person is not interested in making peace? In fact, he’s pushing the other way; he won’t back down and he’s escalating the tension. How am I to respond? Fight back? Re-group, re-arm and give the fight everything I’ve got to make sure I win? No! I am to pursue, strive and work hard for peace.

It’s easy to be a peacemaker when there is little to divide. The real test comes in a crisis when peace has been smashed and is scattered like a broken piece of china on the floor. Then what? Do I just kick the broken pieces around or should I work hard to recover the lost peace? The spiritual person will lose sleep at night, labor in prayer, and cry to God for wisdom on how to restore peace.

Even if the older ones who should be an example to you – even if they are at loggerheads with each other, you take the high road. Do the Christ-like thing. Strive to be a peacemaker.

Dear child of God, maybe you are in the middle of a very difficult situation right now. What contribution are you making? Are you helping to ‘stir the pot’ or trying to ‘still the waters?’ Strive for peace with everyone. The supreme example of a peacemaker is the Prince of Peace. Did He strive for peace with everyone? He did more than strive for peace. He laid down His life for peace. “Having made peace through the blood of His cross…” Colossians 1:20.

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