Live at Peace with Everyone

If it is possible, as far as depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

Christians are the followers, the disciples, of the Prince of Peace. The peace of Christ has been offered to us and should mark our lives. So, it is not surprising that we hear the Apostle Paul challenge us to live at peace with everyone. That should be the standard operating procedure for every follower of Jesus.

Those who are contentious with others are not following our God of all peace. I love how practical Paul's command is. The clear instruction that cannot be avoided is that we, as followers of Jesus, should live at peace with everyone. But Paul realizes that it takes two to make that happen. One person by himself or herself can long for peace and work toward peace, but it takes the second person to agree to peace. So we are told, “as far as depends on you,” live at peace.

We cannot force someone to be at peace with us. There will be those who have decided to be our enemy, regardless of our desire for peace. We are not responsible for their determination to withhold peace from our relationship. We just live with the firm commitment to be at peace with everyone who will accept that peace.

God of Peace, help me to live out this command in intentional, kind ways. Cause me to desire to be a person of peace, and to seek the best possible outcomes with all relationships in my life. Give me strength to do everything I can to live as a peace-filled person even when others don’t reciprocate. Please pour out Your reassurance when others disagree or won’t make any attempt to live at peace with me. Let me shine Your light into dark places and refuse to take responsibility for things I can’t do anything about. Give me the grace to pray for those who hate me or refuse to reconcile with me. Create space in my heart for Your peace that passes understanding.

Prayer Points

• Praise the Lord Almighty, who allows city dwellers around the world to seek him (Zech. 8:20ff).

• Thank God for letting you find him.

• Confess times you have become indifferent and inattentive to his presence.

• Commit yourself to ongoing communion with him throughout the day.

• Ask God to regularly fill you with the joy of his salvation (Ps. 51:7-12).

• Pray that God will move the hearts of national leaders throughout the world to provide open doors for the spread of God’s salvation.

• Ask that the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ (Rev. 11:15) very soon!