DAILY MANNA
WEDNESDAY 25TH DECEMBER, 2019
EDIFICATION THROUGH PEACEFUL CONDUCT
TEXT: ROMANS 14:10-22
KEY VERSE: “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (ROMANS 14:19).
The philosophy of the world is that to win the peace, you have to prepare for war. It explains why both the superpowers and the small nations across the globe address issues of global peace through a deadly arms’ race and the maintenance of huge armed forces. Even poverty-wracked countries are not spared. They spend more money on readiness for internal and international conflicts than on infrastructure critical to the welfare of their peoples. This has made the planet an insecure habitation and a time bomb waiting to blow up at the push of a button.
But the world is nowhere near peace because we have not followed the counsel of God according to the key verse. Certainly, heavy weaponry, light arms, nuclear armory and militarised civilian communities cannot produce peace. They make for more suspicion and further impoverish the poor nations.
The epistle to the Romans was written to believers who were being reminded that even if they were among the heathen, they were expected to follow in the footsteps of their Lord, the Prince of Peace. They must be like Him in their relationship with each other. If their unbelieving neighbours provoked them, they were to respond with overtures of peace.
That is the missing link in the world which the Lord wants the Christians to supply. The world is giving its own lethal provisions that cannot edify but destroy. The Lord has given us two infinitely more powerful weapons to subdue those provisions. First, He wants us to be uncompromising in our righteousness and show unfeigned love to one another. Secondly, He wants us to “follow after the things which make for peace.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Reach for peace through Jesus.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: REVELATION 4–6
