As people of peace we should be committed to it. Look at
Abraham. He showed his commitment through compromise. (Gen. 13:5-12) We need to
go as far as we can to maintain peace. We must go as far as is necessary,
without sacrificing righteousness, to keep peace. (Matt. 5:39-40) We cause our
own strife. It comes from our own desires for pleasure. This draws out all
kinds of discord. We should be committed enough to peace to draw near to
God to cleanse our hands and hearts. (James 4:1-8) We must be
willing to make sacrifices for peace. (1 Cor. 6:7; Rm. 14:13) We must be
willing to be wrong for peace. We must be willing to be cheated for peace. We
must be willing to be the weaker brother. We need to do this less we put a
stumbling block in our brother’s way. We do not want our brethren to fall
because of our inability to maintain peace.
Think on what is lovely. Let God direct your mind to what is truly lovely in this world. At the very least that tree, flower, and blade of grass that He made and you saw today is lovely. Let Him influence your thoughts every day until you think on what God considers lovely. Then dwell on those things. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. (Col. 3:16) There will be an overflow of lovely thoughts pour from your mind. Think about how encouraging to others that would be. Think lovely thoughts.
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