11-28-2023

Good Morning All,

   Romans 14:19; “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

    I often sit back and watch people as they interact.  It is always fascinating to me to see what causes disturbances in relationships. Whether it is one on one or it is a group relationship, they seem to have different levels of disturbance.  It usually starts with a mumble, something said under your breath about something that was said or was heard.  It will grow into a grumble where the complainer’s comments are said loud enough to be heard but not really completely understood.  It will then rise to a kerfuffle where some extras are brought into the original debate either confusing the issue or making the beginning of picking sides.  It can rise to a conflagration where tempers flare which can lead to a full-fledged brouhaha which can lead you right into the much dreaded donnybrook, so much for peace in the relationship.

    Relationships, from personal to group dynamics, are always a struggle.  This is the result of our sinful nature.  Relationships require giving, sinful nature only looks to take.  There will always be this tension; our sinful nature wrestling with the Spirit within us for control.  The Spirit usually wins but sometimes it doesn’t.  When sinful man wins the struggle, pain and sorrow follow.  It started when Cain killed Abel and hasn’t gotten any better.  Our sinful nature causes all our problems.

     So, we fall into temptation, and we sin against our spouse, children, brothers, or sisters; or they sin against us; how do we get back on track?  What tools do we have that the Spirit gives to us to go forward?  The greatest tool we have is also the greatest gift we have and that is forgiveness.  If you want to move forward, if you want to have peace, you have to forgive.  If you never forgive you will never have peace.  This is not a punishment or a threat; it is how we work.  If we do not forgive, we do not let go of the past.  If we live in the past, we are left to repeat it.  Thus, any pain which we experienced remains in vision and we repeat the pain over and over.  So, Scriptures tells us to pursue peace and for the mutual upbringing.

    In order to have peace, we must have a clear conscience and a clear heart.  We must confess our errors and give forgiveness to those who cause us pain.  Ratcheting the struggle upward may bring a hollow victory but it will never bring peace.  It will actually do the opposite.  Fighting never brings peace, only forgiveness brings about true peace.  That is why God’s peace is so great; it is built on love and forgiveness.  If we want true peace, we need to forgive and then try and build each other up.

Father, in your love for us we have forgiveness.  Help us to grow in peace; help us to forgive.  Show us the peace that is beyond this world’s understanding.  Show us your compassion that we may be compassionate to others.  Send your Spirit of healing to those who are struggling with one of their relationships.  We ask that you bring forgiveness and peace to those in pain.  All this we boldly ask because of Jesus our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret