We live in a world and society that enjoys a strange contrast. We say we desire to live in peace, yet we love conflict. We live so much of our lives worrying, arguing with people, anxious about everything, stressed about life, with chaos in the family, that it just becomes the normal in our everyday sphere of influence.
What is there about us that loves these things? I know we say that we do not love anxiety, worry, and chaos but we must. Think just a minute. How much of your life, how many hours, days, weeks, months, or years have you given to worry and anxiety? How much of your life have you spent on, if not physical, mental and emotional conflict? You have given a lot of your life to worry, so, you must enjoy it. Even though you know that conflict, worry, fretting, and anxiety will cause your blood pressure to go up while increasing your stress level that will make you physically, emotionally, and mentally sick. If you are not careful, you will spend much of your life doing just that.
The first thing to realize about living in peace is to realize that something inside of us, our human nature, desires to worry and be anxious. That is why Jesus encouraged us not to do it.
The gospel writer reveals the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life”.
Worrying is so dominant in our lives that Jesus had to tell us not to do it. Do not allow your mind to take you there. In other words, we make a decision not to worry and lose our peace. Now, Jesus does not say stick your head in the sand and pretend a serious problem is not there. He said do not allow your mind to worry.
Though we love to worry, whether we admit it or not. When we find ourselves experiencing conflict, turmoil, and worry, we become “blamers” and “finger pointers.” We do not want the blame for it. The chaos and conflict and the worry in our lives are never our fault, or so we say. The absence of peace in your life is never your fault. It is always the fault of someone or something else whether it be the spouse, children, boss, employee, pastor, church member, or whomever. We seemingly always find someone or something to blame the lack of peace in our lives.
The truth of the matter is peace in your life, or the lack of it, depends on you!
Romans 12:17-21, Do not repay anyone evil for evil. be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for god's wrath, for it is written: "it is mine to avenge; i will repay," says the lord. on the contrary: "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. in doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It is impossible to live in peace if you refuse to take responsibility for peace. Please get this! You living in peace is not your spouse’s responsibility. It depends on you. It is your responsibility. You living in peace with your children is not your children’s responsibility. It depends on you. It is your responsibility. You living at peace at work with your employees or employer depends on you. It is your responsibility. Your loss of peace because of a conflict with a person is not the person’s fault because peace depends on you. It is your responsibility. However, we do not want to take responsibility.
The next step in living in peace is accepting responsibility for peace. Why is it important that you accept responsibility? It is because you will never trust Jesus to work as long as you are blaming someone else. How can you get honest with God about life when you refuse to get honest with yourself?
Romans 12:18 says, “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”.
The truth is, you will always have something happening that will take your peace if you allow it. Your peace depends upon you. Something inside of you will lust to worry. Jesus said, “take no thought of it”. Don’t give your mind to it. There will always be some person throwing rocks or words at you. There will always be some situation threatening your purpose. If you will continue to focus on what God put you here to do, God will take care of the things. God will take care of your enemies if you will allow him to work. The scriptures instruct you if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Colossians 3:18, “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful”.
In Christ,
Pastor Kevin Gurley
KingdomFamilyOutreachCenter
17057 AL Hwy 75 Building 5C
Henagar, AL 35978
