May 22 - The Peace Process

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:17-19)

God certainly makes it clear that peace is a high priority in the Kingdom. From Old Testament teaching and example, to the life and message of Jesus, to the clear teaching of the New Testament epistles, peace is consistently presented as a central focus of the desire of God for his people. It is of such importance that one of the titles for Jesus is Prince of Peace.

Though humans have not done well in living out peace, the high value that God places on peace has made its way in our collective psyche. Some of our best thinkers and writers have written about peace.

Here are a few short quotes from a diverse group:

“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” —John F. Kennedy

“When I say it’s you I like, I’m talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.” —Fred Rogers

“We plant seeds that will flower as results in our lives, so best to remove the weeds of anger, avarice, envy and doubt, that peace and abundance may manifest for all.” —Dorothy Day

“We look forward to the time when the power to love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessing of peace.” —William Gladstone

I wonder when the Church will begin to put such a high value on peace. All too often, we Christians are seen as those who fuss and fight over little things. Church fights and splits are all too common and certainly do not present a message of peace to our culture. If we want to continue to be a biblical people, it is time to get serious about being a people of peace.

Today’s text gives a message of peace that simply cannot be ignored. Paul says with apostolic authority that the Kingdom of God is a matter of peace. Because of that, we are to make every effort to do what leads to peace. Can you imagine a church fellowship where this is taught and modeled? Our assemblies should be marked by an atmosphere of peace whenever we gather.

It is time that church leaders begin to teach and expect peace as a characteristic of corporate Christianity. But for that to happen, all of us need to begin pursuing peace within us as part of what it means to walk with Jesus. We must take to heart Paul’s instruction that we are to “make every effort to do what leads to peace.”

Lord, I thank you that the very angels sang of peace when you were born. You have built peace into the gospel message and made it a pillar of your kingdom. May your Church begin to reflect your peace in radical ways in the way we treat one another. Teach us to passionately pursue peace in ways that demonstrate your life of peace within us.

--Adapted from Prayer, Peace and the Presence of God (A 30-Day Journey to Experience the Shalom of Jesus) by David Butts. This book is available at prayerleader.com. Use the code CONPSP3 at checkout to receive an additional 10% discount.

Prayer Points

• Praise God as the great and powerful Creator who has no equal on earth or in the spiritual realm.
• Give thanks for the vast, eternal reaches of God’s knowledge and wisdom.
• Confess those times when you have not trusted in God’s leading.
• Commit yourself to spending more of your prayer time meditating on the depth of his knowledge and understanding.
• Ask God to daily make you aware of his power, his wisdom, and his great love for you.
• Pray that your pastor and elders will spend increasingly more time in prayer for God’s guidance in the direction of the church, relying on the Spirit’s leading and the instruction of God’s Word (Acts 6:4).