Being at Peace with Everyone

In Romans 12:17–18, Paul challenges us to be careful not to repay evil with evil, to do what is acceptable in the eyes of others, and to live at peace with everyone. This is easier said than done, but when we are people of peace, it’s easier for us to be at peace with everyone around us.

During day 1, we talked about how to be people of peace like Jesus was in Mark 4:38. As the storms around him raged, Jesus slept. We can face many storms in life when we have conflicts with others. And while we can’t choose to just sleep, we can choose to try our best to live at peace with those we interact with by practicing behaviors that are generally accepted by others. This includes apologizing, showcasing patience, and displaying forgiveness.

You may have to ask God to show you where you are not at peace with others or where others are not at peace with you. It takes real courage to recognize that you may be a stressor or challenge to others, but we have a responsibility to live at peace with all people. Relying on God to speak to you about these issues is the first step. If God reveals that someone has something against you, be quick to do what is deemed right by everyone through making amends. If God shows you where you are in conflict with someone else, it doesn’t help to repay their behavior with more negative behavior. As soon as you can, reach out to that person and try to resolve the issue. In the same way Jesus reconciled us back to God, we can reconcile with one another.