Peace With Those Around Us.
Peace is a commodity that seems to be in short supply these days. Don reminds us how to find peace with each other at Christmas.
Christmas Get Togethers
Christmas get-togethers can be interesting, especially if there’s some tension in the family. Maybe there’s some unresolved struggle or something that has upset someone and possibly there has been no forgiveness. A few seasons ago with the virus happening all around the world, people were not getting together quite as much as they would normally. But still God wants us to have peace, first peace with him through trusting Christ as our Savior. But he also, as far as it is possible, wants us to have peace with those around us.
Be at Peace
When we think of peace, with individuals that we are in contact with, I’m reminded of Romans 12:18,
“if possible, so far as it depends on you. Be at peace with all men…never take your own revenge, beloved.” Romans 12:18-19
He’s talking to Christians, how we are to respond to people in our circle of influence in perhaps our families, maybe in our neighborhoods, the people around us, as far as it depends on us, if possible, be at peace with all men.
Peace is something that should be reflected in our relationships. As far as we can, in God’s strength, we are to walk in the path of peace with our fellow man with others.
Christmas Eve 1914
There’s a story from years ago, it was Christmas Eve 1914. The air was cold and frost filled. German and British forces in the midst of WW1 stood facing each other, separated by a strip of flat ugly land intersected with barbed wire. Suddenly a British soldier saw lights come on along the line of the enemy trenches. Then, came the unbelievable sound of singing, German soldiers singing Silent Night.
When the sound died away, the British soldiers responded with The First Noel. The singing from both sides went on for an hour and was followed by invitations to cross over to the enemy lines. One German soldier, with great courage, began to walk across to the British trenches. He was followed by other Germans. They had their hands in their pockets to show that they had no weapons.
When Christmas day dawned, there was no sound of rifles or gunfire, the men had agreed among themselves to a ceasefire. And for that one brief day, peace reigned on the battlefront.
That is a very unique story, a very unique time in history. We may not be in the battle lines, but we might be at war with a neighbor or somebody in the family. There might be a person who does not know the Lord, they’re antagonistic toward the Lord and towards you. God asks us to be at peace with them as far as it is possible.
Be at Peace With Your Brother in Christ
We are also to be at peace with our brother in Christ, not only with our neighbor, who doesn’t know the Lord, but with our brother in Christ. Ephesians 2:13 says,
“But now in Christ Jesus.”(When we trust Christ, we are placed into Christ by the Spirit. That verse continues,) “in Christ Jesus, you who formerly were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for he himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in his flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances so that in himself in Christ, he might make the two,” Ephesians 2:13-15
these two groups we’re talking about are Gentiles and Jews,
“one new man in place of the two thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by having put to death, the enmity.” Ephesians 2:15-16
Christ has made it possible through his death, for us to live in peace with one another. And that’s what we’re called to do.
Broken Barrier
Again Ephesians 2:14 tells us
“he himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.” Ephesians 2:14
In other words, there was hostility between these two groups, between Jews and Gentiles. Now when a Jewish person or a Gentile comes to Christ, they’re placed into the same body of Christ, they’re united together in Christ. And they’re supposed to live out that unity, it’s to become practical in their relationships. In Ephesians 4:1 Paul writes,
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” Ephesians 4:1
What is that like? Verse 2 continues,
“with all humility, and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2
We are called to preserve what God has united us to, but we are experientially to live out that unity in peace. That is so critical.
Preserve Unity
Humility, gentleness and patience preserve unity. We all have idiosyncrasies, the older I get the more I realize I have them. Everybody has them, Christians included. We are to love one another, and with a humble heart, work to have unity with one another, even with our unique differences.
First Thessalonians 5:13 says,
“live in peace with one another”
in order to do this we must have the attitude of Christ. Philippians 2:5 says,
“have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” Philippians 2:5
We’re to have the attitude of Christ. And that includes his humility, that’s only possible as the Spirit of God works in us and begins to transform us more and more, so that we’re more and more like Christ and his humility dominates our character. And Philippians 2:3 says,
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one or another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3
Christ-like Humility
We can preserve unity by growing in Christ-like humility. Perhaps one of the best things that we can give our family or our church family is the gift of growing humility. As we allow Christ to work within us by the Spirit of God, to transform us that we become more and more humble, more and more loving, and that we express unity with one another, and enjoy a bond of peace with one another.
May that be more and more a reality within each of us as believers within the churches that we attend, within the families that God has placed us in. We can enjoy the bond of peace that is provided by Christ, who has given the provision to us so we can live out that unity. God bless each of us to live this to the full.
How do you preserve peace? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Don Salmans
Don has been a regular contributor to HopeStreamRadio for a number of years. Don and Martie live in Ontario where he preaches in various churches in the area.
Much of his time is invested in his own local church, Edmison Heights Bible Chapel, where he is currently an elder.
Don and Martie have been married 43 years and have two grown sons and seven grandchildren. One of his greatest joys in this season of his life is simply spending time with his grand kids.
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People – StockSnap
Christmas table – jplenio
Unity – jerryzhuca
Peace – geralt
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