Peace and Holiness
As believers in Jesus Christ, our lives are to be a light in a world of darkness. We are to be a people of love and nonviolence. Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers, and if we follow Christ, we are to strive to be at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even to live in peace with those in the world. Let your life and my life allow people to see that peace with God brings peace within self. And once one has peace with God and peace with self, they will find peace with others.
Peace comes from believers living a holy life before God and others. Holiness is God’s central attribute, and those who claim to love Him and follow Him must demonstrate His holiness to the world. The simplest way to do that is to focus on what is right and what is wrong. People who are trying to be holy before God seek to do what is right. It is as simple as that. It is simple, but if we fail to do it, we will not see the Lord. We are not in a relationship with Him if we do not strive to live the way that He wants us to live.
The way we treat others and take care of them shows our real relationship with God. If we have truly received the grace of God, it will manifest in having love in our hearts for others. The grace of God always changes how we view ourselves and others. So do not think you can embrace the grace of Jesus Christ and treat others with contempt. Get rid of every ounce of hatred and bitterness from your heart. Ask God to help you with that. He will, by the power of His Spirit, root it out.
May our lives always reflect the love of God to a lost and dying world. We have the love of God on our side. Let us love Him and serve Him for the rest of our days by loving and serving one another.
“Strive to live in peace with everyone, and strive to live a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Take care of each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Make sure that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, bringing corruption to many people” (Hebrews 12:14-15).
Dewayne Dunaway
