Make Every Effort To Live In Peace With Everyone And To Be Holy
Shine For Christ
HEBREWS 12:14
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”
Hebrews 12:14 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/heb.12.14.nkjv
The people were familiar with the ceremonial cleansing ritual that prepared them to come into God’s presence for worship. They was aware they had to be holy and clean in order to enter the Temple.
Sin stands between us and God, and always blocks our vision of God, indeed, it opens doors that give the devil authority over our lives.
Therefore, if we want to get close to Him, we must repent of our sin and turn away from our sinful ways toward God.
We cannot achieve this in our own strength, and really must be willing to cooperate with Him and allow Him to transform the way we think by the renewing of our minds; it is only then, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and the perfect will of God. (ROMANS 22:1-2).
James tells us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
James 4:7-10 NKJV
Living right with God is coupled with receiving peace; it is a promise from Jesus Himself; He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27 NKJV
When you live right with God, you shall have nothing to hide; you can be transparent in all things without fear because the devil has nothing over you.
The, truth is, transparency brings peace.
We are all sinners in need of a Saviour; we all need to repent. No one can hide their sin from God, nor can they change without God’s help.
Therefore confession to God and a willingness to change, to turn from the former sinful ways toward God is an essential part of being saved.
But the devil knows your past too, and given opportunity, he will hold your sinful past over you.
Most people have something in the closet they want to hide, but if you in God’s wisdom, confess your sin to a trusted pastor or friend, not the whole world, that would give the devil another hand to destroy you, but confession to a trusted friend will immediately release you from the devil’s grip.
Confession to God brings salvation, but confession to one another breaks the devil’s grip that brings fear.
Therefore, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:16 NKJV
Right relationship with God leads to right relationship with others. “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Proverbs 16:7 NKJV
My brethren, in these final days, we see divisions, racism and violent demonstrations, outrage and destruction. But I ask you all to consider, their is but one race of people, that is the human race.
God created us all in His image; regardless of race, colour or any other factors, He loves us all-He does not want anyone to perish, but for everyone to turn to Him in repentance (2 PETER 3:9).
To pursue peace, one must be humble and respectful of others beliefs, culture, and ideals. It takes humility and patience, to shine for Christ and love the sinners of this world. But it is the light of Christ that will draw them to His feet.
Therefore, love the sinners, but hate the sins. “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”
I Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV
Shine for Christ, like a city on a hilltop, that all can see that you are different from those of the world (MATHEW 5:14).
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.””
I Peter 3:8-9, 11-12 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
