How can believers promote peace in times of "great turmoil" today? Opening the Text Romans 12:18: “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.” Seeing the Context • The verse sits within Paul’s call to believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices and to live transformed lives (Romans 12:1–2). • Beginning with sincere love (v. 9), Paul lists specific marks of genuine faith that flow from the gospel. • Peace is not optional; it is a visible evidence of the new life Christ gives. Principles for Promoting Peace Today • Peace is a command, not a suggestion. • The phrase “if it is possible” admits that some will resist peace, yet believers still pursue it wholeheartedly. • Peace depends on the believer’s “part,” stressing personal responsibility rather than controlling others. • Biblical peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is the presence of wholeness rooted in Christ (Ephesians 2:14). • Scripture’s authority establishes that God Himself empowers believers to fulfill this calling. Practical Steps You Can Take 1. Cultivate an inner life anchored in Christ’s peace – John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” – Philippians 4:6–7: pray instead of worry; God’s peace guards hearts and minds. 2. Control the tongue – Proverbs 15:1: a gentle answer turns away wrath. – Avoid coarse, inflammatory, or mocking words, especially online. 3. Model humility and self-sacrifice – Romans 12:17: do not repay evil for evil. – Philippians 2:3–4: esteem others better than yourself. 4. Seek reconciliation quickly – Matthew 5:23–24: go and be reconciled before offering worship. – Refuse to let bitterness take root (Hebrews 12:14–15). 5. Practice active peacemaking in community – Matthew 5:9: peacemakers are called sons of God. – Mediate misunderstandings, refuse gossip, encourage dialogue. 6. Live Spirit-filled – Galatians 5:22: the fruit of the Spirit includes peace. – Depend on the Spirit daily for discernment and restraint. Encouragement from Other Passages • James 3:18: “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.” • Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast mind, because he trusts in You.” • Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” God’s Word leaves no doubt: believers, grounded in Christ’s finished work, can actively sow peace even amid great turmoil, displaying the gospel’s transforming power to a watching world. |
    |