The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges

Author:Jerry Bridges
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RELIGION / Christian Life / Spiritual Growth
Publisher: The Navigators
Published: 2014-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

PEACE WITH MEN

When Paul listed peace as one of nine traits of the fruit of the Spirit, he was probably thinking primarily of peace with other people. He had already warned the Galatians against “biting and devouring each other” (Galatians 5:15). And in his list of the acts of the sinful nature, immediately preceding his list of the fruit of the Spirit, those actions that are totally opposite to peace are predominant: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy. As he began to list traits of godly character that the Galatians needed to keep foremost in mind, peace with one another must have been near the top of his list.

The importance of this aspect of peace is amply evident from major references to it in the New Testament. Here are just a few:

Blessed are the peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9)

As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

Make every effort to do what leads to peace. (Romans 14:19)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (Colossians 3:15)

Make every effort to live in peace with all men. (Hebrews 12:14)

Whoever would love life and see good days . . . must seek peace and pursue it. (1 Peter 3:10-11)

Three times in these references we are exhorted to “make every effort” toward, or “pursue,” peace. The Greek word used here also means “persecute,” conveying the idea of intense effort or vigilance in tracking down something in order to harass and torment. In a positive sense, it means single-minded pursuit: to leave no stone unturned in our efforts; to lay ourselves out and humble ourselves, if need be, in order to achieve the goal of peace with others.

The pursuit of peace does not include an easygoing, peace-at-any-price kind of attitude; it does not include capitulating to wrong or injustice just for the sake of maintaining appearances. That kind of behavior often leads instead to strife within ourselves. The conflicts that are disturbing our peace with others must be courageously but graciously faced and dealt with. Pursuing peace does not mean running away from the causes of discord.

Let’s consider some practical, biblical steps we can take to pursue peace in conflicts with other believers:

First, We must remember that we are fellow members of the same body. Paul says, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Further on in the same chapter, he says the goal is “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (verse 25). It is incredible that different parts of the same body could be at war among themselves! I am convinced there would be much less disharmony and conflict among believers if we constantly kept in mind that we are members of the same body.

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