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| http://www.saltandlightdevotions.com/January_17_2017 |
For “whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
1 Peter 3:10-11 (ESV)
The Apostle Peter refers to a passage from a psalm of David (34:12-14).
As children of God, we should all want to love life. However, those who have been abused or who suffer from mental illness can’t always look at life as God intends.
Because we belong to God, we are to refrain from evil language and from speaking falsehoods. Churches of the Holiness Tradition have their church disciplines (book of teachings) one section of which states that a Christian refrains from gossiping. Gossip is defined as: telling of an event that one of which a person was not a part.
David’s words tell us here that we need to shun evil and practice good behavior. As children we were told to choose our friends carefully. We learned to obey our parents and that disobedience had consequences.
He tells us to seek peace and pursue it. We seek peace in various ways. Personally, I try to not get into the middle of things that don’t involve me. It is not always easy to adhere to this personal rule but I know I have to in order to please the LORD.
"Seek peace and pursue it"...sometimes it is difficult in this tempestuous world we live in. But that is our goal as Christians...to be the peacemakers. Praying that God will give us wisdom in every situation as to how /what we should do as Jesus would do it...
ReplyDeletePam: Yes, it is difficult to have peace in today's world. We do need God's wisdom and guidance when we have to make decisions. I am in the process of trying to make one that ultimately will affect others. I has spent part of this afternoon in prayer over this circumstance.
Delete'Seek peace and pursue it...' I like that Cecelia.
ReplyDeleteMarja: Thank you for stopping in. I believe we all need to seek and pursue peace, God's peace in every circumstance we find ourselves. Peace and Blessings to you and yours.
DeleteHi Cecelia! I never really thought about 'pursing peace'. It's an interesting thought, and I need to meditate on it. I know that peace is the door that allows me to enter into love, joy and all the rest of the fruits of the spirit. It's so important to be at peace, and to be peaceful with others.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I need to pursue it a bit more!
Blessings,
Ceil
Ceil: It is true that without peace we can do nothing. Jesus is our Peace. He spoke words of peace to the disciples when they had locked themselves in the upper room because they feared the Jews. We receive peace when we learn to trust in Jesus.
Delete