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Romans 14:15-19
In Hebrews 12:14, the author writes, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Maybe you have not considered how important peacemaking is to our salvation, but in both of these places, Paul thinks it is critical. The Kingdom of God, he says, is all about doing right—righteousness. It is all about making peace with one another. It is all about bringing each other joy through the strength that God gives us through His Holy Spirit. So, our petty differences of interpretation divide rather than bring peace, especially on what He calls doubtful things—the things that are arguable because the Bible really does not provide a whole lot of detail about them. Instead of quarreling and looking down on others who do not hold the exact views we hold, we should be pursuing peace with them, creating reconciliation and unity. And once that happens, the product is joy, another fruit of the Spirit. This is what the Kingdom of God is all about: Behaving like God and creating loving relationships! That is what God Himself is trying to do. The author of Hebrews puts it very plainly, even bluntly: If we do not pursue peace with everyone and holiness, we will not see God. Why? Because we will not have built the right godly character to be included in the God Family. God is a holy God and a peacemaking, reconciling God.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The Peacemakers
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