Romans 12:18 (Live at Peace)

 

Romans 12:18

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

Christians are to be known by their love (John 13:35). As their name implies, they are to be followers of Christ, and He is the best example of love. It is written, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters," (1 John 3:16). So Christians should not simply "love with words or speech but with actions and in truth," (1 John 3:18). Paul writes that a Christian can know the truth, by letting God renew their mind so they can "test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will," (Romans 12:2). After a Christian's mind has been transformed by the love of Christ, they will know that one way to show God's love is to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18).

In Paul's letter to the Romans, the phrase "live at peace" was all one word. To "live at peace" in Greek is the word εἰρηνεύω (eiréneuó), which is a verb form of the word for "peace," which is εἰρήνη (eiréné). In Greek "peace" refers to having no hostility. It makes sense then, why Paul wrote "live at peace with everyone," after he wrote, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil," (Romans 12:17). Removing hostility by not seeking revenge is loving, however Christians are called to "go the extra mile," (Matthew 5:41). They are to show even more love by being careful to do what is right in other people's eyes (Romans 12:17), which means trying to follow other people's rules and customs. So in this world of unbelievers we live as though we are from a foreign country (1 Peter 2:11), but we respect this world's laws and social-graces. Christians should "live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us," (1 Peter 2:12).

Living at peace with everyone does not mean Christians
should do everything the world does, because Christians
are to set their minds on "things above, not
on earthly things," (Colossians 3:2).

These days many unbelievers and a decent amount of believers would say the best way to live at peace with everyone is to let people be themselves; to "let you do you." Christians, who have their minds set on God's will, should disagree. Paul wrote a letter to a group of believers, and in it he said "never tire of doing what is good," and then he said doing good includes taking "special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer," (2 thessalonians 3:13-15). So Paul says Christians should not be hostile, and Christians should help disobedient believers become ashamed of their actions. That might not seem loving to a world that craves affirmation for bad behavior, but Jesus, Himself, is not even willing to let people just "do their thing." He says, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent," (Revelation 3:19).

Why should believers let themselves be thought of as "judgmental" when they correct and rebuke others? It is because it is loving. Paul showed this love, when he wrote a letter to the church in Corinth with strict words and harsh rebuke. In this letter Paul wrote that the believers in Corinth were deceived (1 Corinthians 3:18), puffed up (1 Corinthians 4:6) and behaving worse than the pagans (1 Corinthians 5:1). None of this, as well as much more of what Paul wrote, is generally thought of as being loving. What Paul wrote, though, was not his own opinions, but the Lord's commands (1 Corinthians 14:37). When Paul wrote his next letter to the church in Corinth, he knew his previous letter might have grieved those who read it. To explain himself, Paul wrote this in 2 Corinthians chapter 2 from verses 2 to 4:

For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

It's hard for Christians to imagine writing something
to other believers that would purposefully cause them grief,
and yet Paul says that when the circumstances call for it,
this is the most loving thing to do.

Paul's rebuke to the church in Corinth was written out of deep love, and this is the kind of sincere love all Christians must imitate(Romans 12:9-10). Christians who live at peace with everyone must also love with the truth of Christ.

When we love, we earn the right to speak the truth

When we speak truth, we show the world we truly love

I'm not pointin' my finger, I'm holding out my hand

I lay it all on the line now to see God save my friend

Let my life and my words be the proof

I'm gonna love you with the truth

- Casting Crowns

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Strong's Greek: Living at Peace
• Open Bible Info: Truth in Love
• Casting Crowns: Love You with the Truth

Should Christians Care about Omens?

Today is Friday the 13th; regarded as the unluckiest day of the year. Some say it's arbitrary to call this day unlucky, after all there is one every year. This day, though, was marked a bad omen not by random chance but, surprisingly, by Biblical interpretation. Historians have traced the fear of the day back to early Christian tradition. Both 13 and Friday relate to the death of Jesus, because at Jesus' last supper (the first event traditionally associated with Good Friday) there were 13 people present (Jesus and His 12 disciples). Many believers in the middle ages saw this as a sign that anything centered around the number 13 or Friday should be avoided. Is this a tradition worth keeping? Should Christians care about omens?

Some early Christians believed that when 13 people ate
together the first one to leave would die, because that's what
happened to Judas (John 13:30, Matthew 27:5).

At first glance it seems clear God does not want His people to care for omens. The Israelites were told not to "interpret omens," (Deuteronomy 18:10), and may of their kings who did evil in God's eyes "practiced divination and sought omens," (2 Kings 17:17, 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6). This makes it seem undeniable that those who divinate omens are rejected by God. That is, until one's reading of Scripture takes them to the wisemen from the east. These well known seekers of the Messiah are quoted saying they "saw [Jesus'] star when it rose,” (Matthew 2:2). They followed this good omen all the way to the house where Jesus was, and then they worshiped Him (Matthew 2:9-11). So, how come the God who does not want His people to interpret omens brought people to worship Him by an omen?

Jesus tells His disciples that the bad omens of
"the abomination that causes desolation," (Daniel 9:27) as
well as a darkened sun and a moon without light (Isaiah 13:10)
will be signs of the end of days (Matthew 24:15,29).

God wants to keep His people from interpreting omens or looking for signs, so they can better follow Him. People who look for signs are looking for direction. They are trying to find out which path they should take, but God's people should trust the Lord and He will direct their path (Proverbs 3:5-6). God may choose to reveal Himself through apparent omens (such as He did with the wisemen), but to His people He speaks plainly. Jesus says, "the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them," (Matthew 13:11), and so to the gentilic wisemen He guided them by a star, but to the shepherds in Israel He directly sent His messengers (luke 2:8-10).

God is patient "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance," (2 Peter 3:9), so there can be a
"great multitude that no one could count, from every nation,
tribe, people and language," in heaven (Revelation 7:9).

God still speaks clearly and guides His people. Scripture teaches that God's Word "is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path," (Psalm 119:105), so it is the Bible where God speaks and gives direction. It is written, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son," (Hebrews 1:1-2), and the Son called the apostles to preach His words (Matthew 10:2-4). The apostles testified that their words were of God by demonstrating signs and wonders (2 Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 2:4). Having demonstrated their authority as God's messengers, the apostles wrote the letters and prophecies that believers have today in the New Testament. These writings shall always be God's voice and guiding hand to His people, because God has built up His Church "on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone," (Ephesians 2:20). So the apostle Paul spoke God's wisdom, when he wrote, "All Scripture is God-breathed...so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work," (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Those who live By God's words will prosper, for blessed is
the one "whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and
who meditates on His law day and night." (Psalm 1:2).

God's people should not be moved by omens, when they have the unmovable truth of Scripture (Matthew 7:24). There may be people of God who say they have correctly interpreted signs, but this has always been the case. In the days before Israel went into exile God told His people, "The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds," (Jeremiah 14:14). God warned His followers to not listen to what the prophets were prophesying, because they were liars who gave false hopes, (Jeremiah 23:16). Christians should not care for omens, because the interpretation of them can be unfounded and misleading. Instead, believers should follow God, because He is always trustworthy (Isaiah 25:1). This world is filled with signs that people interpret by their own minds, yet God speaks in Isaiah chapter 55 from verses 8 to 11:

"My thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways My ways,”

declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are My ways higher than your ways

    and My thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is My word that goes out from My mouth:

    It will not return to Me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Jesus says, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them,
and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish; no one will snatch them out of
My hand," (John 10:27-28).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• National Geographic: Friday the 13th Rooted in Bible
• History: Friday the 13th

Luke 17:6 (Faith That Moves Mulberries)

Luke 17:6

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you."

It's a new year, and that means it's time to make a resolution, a promise to do something more and improve yourself. For believers, it can seem the most important thing they need to do is have faith. If they could trust God and have more confidence in Him, then perhaps their new year, and the rest of their lives would improve. This must have been what the disciples thought, when they told their Lord, "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5). Perhaps they believed they needed more faith, in order to do what Jesus commanded them (Luke 17:3-4), but Jesus responds, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you," (Luke 17:6). All one needs to move a simple tree on command is a tiny amount of faith.

So, after what Jesus said, did the disciples start uprooting trees, bushes and all kinds of flora by their words alone? No. These believers were unable to make shrubs jump into a lake, the same way believers today can't command seeds to plant themselves. Does that mean believers don't have faith; even faith smaller than a tiny speck (the size of a mustard seed)? It would seem odd to say that, after all believers are known as "believers" for a reason. It is written that those who have faith in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16) even if their body dies (John 11:25). Since heaven, an eternal place without death, is filled with those who have believed in Jesus' name (Revelation 7:9-10), then everyone who is a believer must have faith. So, if every believer has faith, then why can't every believer move a mulberry tree?

Depending on the size and available tools, one could
physically move a mulberry tree in a day or several days.

Jesus did not only say that faith the size of a mustard seed can move trees. He also said it can move mountains. Jesus told this to His disciples after they had failed to cast out a demon from a boy, (Matthew 17:19). Upon them asking why they could not cast out the demon, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you," (Matthew 17:20). Well, there's no account in the Bible where any physical mountains move at a believer's command, but there are accounts of the disciples casting out many demons. In fact, the disciples did this, before they encountered the boy they could not heal (Mark 6:13). So, how is it the disciples could heal the demon possessed, and then could not? Well, before Jesus sent out His disciples to cast out demons, He told them He was giving them authority to do so (Matthew 10:1). Jesus gave them the power to do the impossible; in the same way that Jesus gives all of His believers the ability to do the impossible, the ability to have faith.

It is not possible for anyone to believe in Jesus on their own, because people apart from God are spiritually dead and are incapable of having faith (Ephesians 2:1-3). Even though everyone who lived was dead, God makes people alive by His grace (Ephesians 2:4-5). It is written, "By grace [believers] have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast," (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith, even the smallest amount of it, cannot come from within someone, but is given by God. He is the one who maintains the faith of every believer, "from first to last," (Romans 1:17). This is why when the disciples asked Jesus, “Who then can be saved?" Jesus responds, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God," (Mark 10:26-27). God Himself comes into everyone to whom He gives faith (Ephesians 2:20-22). By His presence believers can do the impossible; not to uproot Everest or speak down a redwood. God gives His people faith so they can trust His resolution to them, that we will be His people, and He will be our God, (Jeremiah 30:22). No one needs more faith. All everyone needs is one God.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Strong's Greek: Faith
• Evangelical Focus: Mulberry Tree
• The MacArthur Study Bible

Was the First Christmas Just a Nice Story?

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" cries out Charlie Brown in a classic Christmas special scene. "Sure," responds his friend Linus, "I can tell you what Christmas is all about." Linus takes center stage, and tells Charlie Brown and everyone present the story of the first Christmas. He recites the gospel of Luke in chapter 2 from verses 8 to 14:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

From the first time Linus said these words on national television, audiences have admired this scene. It's been embraced by Christians, but also non-believers. Some of those who are anti-Christ have said they admire this scene, because it tells a nice story about how people should be kind to each other. It's not a story about worshiping Jesus. It is instead about generosity, and how people helped each other out. So, is that all the story of the first Christmas is? Is it just a nice story?

If the first Christmas is just a "nice" story, then reading it
is just as useful as reading other "nice" stories about
Santa, reindeer and presents (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Taking a look at the Christmas story, as it's written in Luke chapter 2, there are a handful of central characters. There is the young woman named Mary who gives birth to a baby named Jesus. There's also the shepherds who live just outside of the town where Mary and Jesus are, and there's also the angels who tell the shepherds about Jesus' birth. If this story is just a nice story about people helping each other, then these characters (or at least one of these characters) should demonstrate an observable kindness to someone else, or exhibit an act of generosity from which readers are supposed to learn.

Based on Luke chapter 2 from verses 8 to 14, there doesn't appear to be any moment where the characters do anything apparently kind. At face value, the story revolves around shepherds listening to a message from angels about a pregnant woman who gave birth. There's no display of charitable giving in that. Well, what if the scope of our text was widened to Luke chapter 2 from verses 1 through 20? Now, there's even less signs of apparent kindness. There's an inconsiderate king who forces his subjects to move hundreds of miles, for the sake of one census (1-2). There's a whole town of people unable to let a pregnant woman stay somewhere else other than a place for animals (7). Even the shepherds, after they receive the angels' message, go into town, find the baby, and then promptly go away (17). Considering the shepherds didn't give anything to Mary or Jesus (they didn't even stay to change a diaper), it doesn't look like they helped her out. Plainly looking at this "nice" story, it doesn't seem to be about kindness or generosity. Actually, it looks like it's about nothing at all.

Nativity sets represent a condensed telling of the Christmas
story. To unbelievers who put them up Paul might say, they are 
"objects of worship...to an unknown god. So [unbelievers]
are ignorant of the very thing [they] worship," (Acts 17:23).

If this story really is what Christmas is all about, then what is this story all about?

This story is about Jesus. Everything written in Luke chapter 2 centers around Him, who He is and how the characters respond to Him. Before Jesus is born, the writer addresses that His earthly father is from "the house and line of David," meaning Jesus is of a royal line, even though His family is clearly not treated like royalty (4). When the shepherds are told about Jesus' birth, the angels say they have brought, "good news that will cause great joy for all the people," (10). This news is that a savior has been born; one who is the Lord (11). Then the angels praised God, and said there would be peace on earth to those on whom His favor rests (14). The shepherds hurry to see their savior and their Lord (16), and after they see Him, "they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them," (17-18). Mary considers the shepherds' response to her newborn to be worthy of treasuring (19), and all the shepherds return to their field, "glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told," (20).

The events in Luke are not just a story, but are history.
In the same way Jesus was born just as the shepherds
were told, (Luke 2:20), Jesus lived just as the
gospel writers have told (Luke 1:1-4).

Everything that happens in this story occurs, because Jesus is born. At first glance it seems rather odd how everyone reacts to the birth of an infant who cannot do anything for them. A clearer focus, though, reveals this child is described as the Lord, and our characters in this story "know that the Lord is God; besides Him there is no other," (Deuteronomy 4:35). This means Jesus is God. Not only this, but He is also the Savior, and everyone whom He loves will have peace (Luke 2:11,14). He came to rescue people as their benevolent king from heaven (John 18:36), but many people did not receive Him (John 1:11). These people did not believe what was said of Him, "yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God," (John 1:12). Those who believe in God are not blind to who Jesus is, for God opens His children's eyes to see Him clearly (Luke 24:31). Only those with opened eyes know that the first Christmas tells of when "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. [Those who believe] have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth," (John 1:14).

The Christmas story is not a "nice" story, but a powerful story! It is about Jesus, the one who came to save those who made no room for Him. He came to the earth out of more than just generosity and kindness, for He came out of grace and peace. Those who know Him have seen His glory and are filled with overwhelming joy. They will praise God in a cold dark night and for the rest of their days.

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Do you hear the sound?

A thousand angels are singing out

To God Almighty we're bowing down

And that's what Christmas is all about!

Light me up and I'll show you the way

Every year can't wait for Christmas day

Light me up, I finally figured out

What Christmas is all about!

- Owl City

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
• Owl City: Light of Christmas

Isaiah 7:14 (Immanuel is God with Us)

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

God is with us! "Really?" some of my readers might say. "Have you looked around? Would God really be here and let this kind of stuff happen? Is God asleep, then? Is God dead?" God is with us! "And that's great, but..." some of my other readers might say. "I'm glad God's here, but I can't just go and visit Him, and it's really hard to hear Him sometimes. Couldn't He be here stronger? Am I keeping Him away?" God is with us! "Amen," the Bible says.

"God with us" is proclaimed throughout Scripture. The prophet Isaiah wrote to the city of David, Bethlehem, that God was with them. He wrote, "the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel," (Isaiah 7:14). So, God's sign to prove His promise appeared on the first Christmas night. Just as Isaiah prophesied a virgin woman did give birth to a son (Luke 2:7), and He was called Immanuel which means "God with us." This baby boy named Jesus grew up to become a man, and after He accomplished everything He wanted to do with His life on earth (John 19:30), He lifted Himself up into heaven (Acts 1:9). So the one called Immanuel is no longer here on earth, but this does not mean that God is not with us. Isaiah gave the prophecy about Immanuel so the people of Bethlehem would know God is with them, and that promise was sealed by the sign of a virgin birth. The promise, though, was true, even before the virgin gave birth.

God lived among His people as a baby, who was
born in a real stable and laid in a real manger (Luke 2:7).
He was here on earth as someone who could be
held and fed, and He's still here as Immanuel.

Before Isaiah was born, God has said He is with us to many of His followers. One of these followers was a leader named Joshua whom God told, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go," (Joshua 1:9). Another of God's chosen was a great king named David who wrote by the power of the Holy Spirit, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me," (Psalm 23:6). There was also a prophet named Zephaniah who wrote to the people of Israel, "The Lord has taken away your punishment, He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm," (Zephaniah 3:15). He even further wrote, "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing,” (Zephaniah 3:17). God has always been with us.

Even when the waters won't stop rising

Even when I'm caught in the dead of a night

I know, No matter how it ends

You're with me even then

- Micah Tyler

God is present in everyone's life, for his hand has written all the people's days before any one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16). His Spirit is present in the hearts of His followers, for they are His holy dwelling place and He lives in their midst (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Lord says to His obedient servants, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand," (Isaiah 41:10). Indeed God will be with His people "always, to the very end of the age," (Matthew 28:20).

"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from
Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if
I make my bed in the depths, You are there," (Psalm 139:7-8).

Yes, God is with us; no matter how anyone may respond to this. If anyone looks around they will see God's fingerprint on all of creation (Revelation 4:11). He has not abandoned the world (Hebrews 1:3), but is using all of the chaos within it to bring about goodness for His people (Romans 8:28). He is not asleep, and He is not dead (Psalms 121:4). It is for the good of His followers that no one can physically visit Him on earth, because if He remained here in flesh His Spirit would never come (John 16:7). He continues to speak to us through His word in the Bible (Hebrews 4:12), and He does not need to give us new messages as our days progress (2 Timothy 3:17, Hebrews 1:2). His Spirit is as strong in our lives as He has ordained to be so (1 Corinthians 12:11). There is nothing any of His chosen people can do to lessen His Spirit or remove themselves from God's presence (Romans 8:38-39). We know God is with us and will always be, for the virgin conceived and gave birth to a son, and we still call Him Immanuel.

Can you feel your heart begin to race?

Can you see the tide begin to change?

With all of our futures rearranged

The world will never be the same

For God is with us

Oh, God is with us!

- for KING & COUNTRY

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: God is with Us
• Micah Tyler: Even Then
• for KING & COUNTRY: For God is With Us