40 Ways to Get Closer to God by Jerry MacGregor

Author:Jerry MacGregor [Jerry MacGregor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781441233882
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

___ Check here when you have completed today’s God Challenge.

DAY TWENTY-TWO

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

—ROMANS 12:18

One of the biggest barriers to spiritual growth is something you might not expect. It is not lack of Bible reading or prayer, or slacking off in church attendance. Rather, it is unresolved conflict.

Our relationship with God begins when we admit our need for forgiveness. We cannot earn God’s favor; we must accept the free gift of his grace. We are sinners who are in need of a Savior.

If this is the foundation of our relationship with God, we must forgive others. And yet, people who claim to be saved by grace will walk around for years holding grudges. What’s amazing is that they are perplexed by their lack of growth. They can’t imagine why God seems so distant. They forget this basic truth: You cannot have it both ways, to live as one who is forgiven requires that you also forgive others.

The verse above reminds us that we should live at peace with everyone. This verse also acknowledges that sometimes relational breakdown is beyond our control. That’s why it says, “as far as it depends on you.” That means you make the effort to forgive, to restore community. You stay open to restoration.

Similarly, Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Holiness means, in part, to love even those who don’t deserve it. And that often requires that we extend forgiveness.

In Matthew 6, we read the famous prayer Jesus taught his disciples. But when we recite this prayer, we don’t include the words Jesus said in the very next breath:

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