Like all couples, my husband and I disagree on various issues, but God in his goodness has been coaching us about keeping the peace, no matter what we believe.
Peace is the oil in my day. When I feel it, it makes me a whole less squeaky.
Peace Depends on Me
Even if someone acts like a doofus, I can always choose inner peace, while at the same time praying and seeking outer peace with that other individual as well.
[box] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 [/box]
That’s why God says:
Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23
“We even need to be wise about debates,” I told my son who attends a Christian school.
An innocent debate about Arminianism versus Calvinism turned into a long-standing argument that wounded and separated close friends.
Yes, people can fight about anything. That’s why we need to ask ourselves: Why do I need to win this? Is this really worth fighting for?
Peace is Worth Fighting For
[box] Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalms 34:14 [/box]
[box]They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11 [/box]
So God spells out this wise instruction both in the Old and New Testament, from David and Peter: we need to put off evil and put on and pursue peace.
That’s why we fight for peace on our knees.
This morning my husband and I prayed for a more peaceful day, and we hope you will too:
[box]We choose to rest in you, Prince of Peace. And we ask you to make your truth more and more clear to us so we can become as like-minded as possible. May your peace rule our hearts. Rather than arguing when we disagree, may we continue to humble ourselves and pray together, trusting you’ll give us the love, wisdom and unity we need to feel your peace about each particular issue until it’s resolved exactly the way you want it to be: In Jesus’ name. Amen.[/box]
Your insight is awesome, and loving. Regarding Calvinism – I grew up in the Reformed Episcopal Church, an evangelical group that leans in that direction – my oldest brother used to say that if God is not sovereign, He is not God. Calvinistic teachers I have heard speak, have put at least as much emphasis on God’s grace, as on predestination – the way I see it, predestination means God has a plan for my life. This fact, plus the slogan I have heard or seen several times, “God is always previous” (implying He is never taken by surprise) has been a great comfort to me.
Blessings, Al
Thanks for your comment, Al!
There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life – happiness, freedom, and peace of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone else.
Hi Aman,
Although we may sometimes attain those things when we give them to someone else, we can’t give to someone else what we don’t already have. That’s why we need to be connected to Jesus, the Source. He gives us all these things and more. When God gives us these things, He also motivates us to give them away for selfless reasons. (Not just to get them back.) Even though we often do.
When we’re filled with God’s Holy Spirit, we have the fruit of the Holy Spirit as outlined in the Bible (love, joy, peace, patience…). And the Holy Spirit teaches us to selflessly live them out every day.
Bless you!