Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Peace can be more than the mere absence of conflict or anxiety.
Followers of Christ can enjoy peace in the midst of troubling circumstances because we place our hope in God’s goodness, sovereignty, and unshakable love for us.
• We can seek peace in a troubled relationship because we don’t depend on others to meet our soul-deep needs—God Himself promises to meet them.
Scripture
Deuteronomy 13:12-15 (New Revised Standard Version)
If you hear it said about one of the towns that the Lord your God is giving you to live in, that scoundrels from among you have gone out and led the inhabitants of the town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods,” whom you have not known, then you shall inquire and make a thorough investigation. If the charge is established that such an abhorrent thing has been done among you, you shall put the inhabitants of that town to the sword, utterly destroying it and everything in it—even putting its livestock to the sword.
Scripture
Galatians 5:17 (New Living Translation)
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Consider
Our sinful nature is always willing to do battle over injuries and insults we suffer in relationships. Selfish motives compel us to hurt back, punish, or escalate conflict rather than let some wrongdoer off the hook.
Scripture
2 Samuel 6:16 (New International Version)
As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.
Consider
Bitterness often draws its energy from a love betrayed or a loyalty or trust that was abused. We may get annoyed or even angry at a stranger, but we rarely feel bitter. Bitterness takes hold of us in proportion to the depth of our passion—if we love deeply, our bitterness will be sharp and difficult to dislodge.
Scripture
Judges 21:25 (New Living Translation)
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
Consider
The phrase, “Israel had no king,” appears four times in the Book of Judges and each time is associated with a story of sin and destruction among people who had no moral compass outside themselves. In truth, God was Israel’s King, but they refused to acknowledge his authority over their lives.
We, too, have a King. Yet just like Israel, we resist his authority and prefer to go our own way.
