April  12

  You and Peace
 

    The Word tells us that we reside day by day in a world where the unredeemed person is described by their nature as ‘children of wrath’. (Ephesians 2:3)  And thus it is that we are inevitably subjected to the fruits of that wrath in many ways: the arguing heads on television, and the theme of many movies, television programs and internet presentations.  We see it on the streets and on the sidewalks, and we witness it in the personal family lives of many as well.  Our culture is permeated with expressions of wrath.  But we have been called to something else.

    Paul directs every child of God in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”  We are called to lives that are the direct opposite of wrath.  We are to live and mirror lives of peace and love toward everyone, including those who would wish to harm us.  That is the direct command to each of us from our Lord Master when He spoke these truths in Matthew 5:43-45:

  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

    As we live out our days among them, we are called to be the opposite twin of the child of wrath.  We have a supernatural calling to live our lives as children of love and peace.  In fact, our Lord Master has said that they are to know us by our love! (John 13:35)  We have a clear duty today to be sons and daughters of the Most High God and to leave behind a blessing to each one that we meet. (Romans 12:14)