04 Apr 2022 REFLECTION 6: Live At Peace With Everyone
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12: 17-18
This phrase appears near the end of our Romans passage, but probably sounds a little familiar after already coming across be devoted to one another, honor one another above yourselves, live in harmony with one another, and be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. The Christians in Rome were wrestling through a lot of intense division and conflict – they needed all these reminders!
The gospel of John records Jesus’ words just before he was arrested and ultimately crucified. Knowing what was ahead, his heart overflowed in prayers for his disciples and for us. “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.” (John 17:20-23)
These prayers both inspire and break our hearts. It is painfully clear that Jesus’ words do not describe what we see around us today. Jesus saw a direct connection from his life, death, and resurrection to the transformation of our daily lives. He saw his beloved people living within divine love and being brought to complete unity. What is needed for us to see this too?
Throughout Paul’s writings to early Christians, he teaches that this transformed way of living is possible, because God’s incomparably great power is for us! And “that power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead.” (Ephesians 1:19-20) Throughout this Easter season, let’s marvel at this power that is alive in us! As Jesus prayed, we can grow into complete unity – devoting ourselves to one another in love and living at peace.
Questions: What connections are you seeing between our Romans 12 passage and the victory of Christ that we celebrate at Easter? What are the biggest obstacles for you in living at peace with others?
Prayer: God of peace and unity, we are in awe of your power and love alive within us, and yet in our brokenness we still cause each other great harm. Thank you for loving us, for coming to be with us, for dying our death for us. What a gift to share in your resurrected life! Give us your vision as you heal and free us. Amen.
DIGGING DEEPER
Here are a few more scriptures for further meditation on our theme for this week:
Ephesians 4:2-6
Psalm 133
John 13:34-35
John 15:9-17
Ephesians 1:17-23