Seek Peace

Seek Peace
The Psalmist writes

“Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

                                                                             Psalm 34:11-14

The apostle Paul writes,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.”

                                 Romans 12:18

The Writer of Hebrews states,

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men

 and to be holy; 

without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

                                                 Hebrews 12:14.

Living at peace with all men, even your enemies is the key to a good Christian life. Living at peace with those around you is the key to being able to spread the gospel of Christ.
The apostle Peter tells us,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
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 2:11,12
The Apostle Paul tells believers what the fruits of a good Christian life are when he writes to the Galatians saying,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is

 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law.”  

                                              Galatians 5:22,23.

If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus are you living at Peace with those around you? Is your life exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit?
Please think about it.

Your Fruits

Your Fruits.
The apostle Paul writes,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
Over the years I have heard a lot of criticism of Christians. The criticism ranges from Christians are judgmental to Christians are bigoted and much more.
Speaking as a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus I can see how such criticism can be seen as justified. It seems especially here in the United States and Canada that Christians are known for what they are against.
Christians are seen by many as trying to impose their beliefs on those around them.
Many Christians sadly labour under the delusion that the United States and Canada are Christian nations. Thus their govenments must uphold Christian beliefs.
The United States and Canada are not Christian nations by any stretch of the imagination. They are no more Christian than the Roman empire in the time of Christ was.
      They are very much secular nations, with governments that do what they believe is in the best interest of everyone. Christians need to understand this.
Think of this Jesus and his disciples and indeed the first century believers in Christ Jesus never voted, spoke out against any law the Roman government enacted, and they never demonstrated against anything. Yet within a century the Gospel of Jesus Christ had spread throughout the Roman Empire.
The late American evangelist Billy Graham speaking about Christ’s followers said,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.” Billy Graham.
The Book of Acts speaking of those early believers tells us,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  
Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  
All the believers were together and had everything in common.  
Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,  praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47
Those early believers showed the fruits of the spirit. The apostle Paul stating,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.
Today in the twenty-first century we as a body of believers in Christ Jesus need to be exhibiting these fruits. We need to be known as individuals who exhibit Love, Joy Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. For in doing so we will reach more people for our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus than any demonstration could ever do.
Please think about it.

Your Fruits

Your Fruits
The apostle Paul writing to the Galatians wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”   Galatians 5:22,23.
Here is a simple thing for Christians to think carefully about. Above I have quoted the apostle Paul writing to the Galatian church. Note what he says are the fruits of the Spirit.

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

If the Spirit of God is truly living within you. If God is truly working in you then you should be exhibiting these attributes.
When a person first becomes a Christian I know I seems hard to exhibit such qualities. However if you are truly committed to Christ, if you are truly willing to let God have complete control of your life, then you will start to show more of these attributes.
Christianity, true Christianity, is a faith of Love. Love for God, one’s neighbours and even ones enemies. Christianity practised correctly is not confrontational.
The apostle Peter said,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 
Dear friends,
 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
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 2:9-12.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
This is what it is to be a true Christian.
Please think about it.

Your Fruits

Your Fruits
The apostle Paul wrote,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  
                                                                                   Galatians 5:22,23.
Dear Christian when you stand before God what will He say about your life?
If we are indeed following the teachings of Jesus and the apostles if we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit then what the apostle Paul wrote above should be evident in our lives.
Read the words of Paul again,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  
                                                                                   Galatians 5:22,23.
Is your life showing those fruits?
The writer of Proverbs states,
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 
                                                                                                             Proverbs 3:3,4.
The outcome of true love from God are the fruits of the Spirit.
These attributes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control show God is working in your life.
They also point people to Christ without you even saying a word.
When people see your life as a Christian they should want what you have. Even if they disagree with what you believe they should still admire the fruits of the Spirit exhibited in your life.
Every so often I believe Christians need to take stock of their lives. We need to go to God in prayer and ask Him to show us how we can be more like Him.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
        Hebrews 12:14.
Dear Christian are you living a Holy life before the people around you? Can they see the fruits of the Spirit in your life?
Please think carefully about it.