For the past few days, we’ve been looking at Psalm 34:12 – Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? The watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.
Today we will be looking at qualities and the hard work that it takes to live in peace with others. No matter how hard peace is, war and strife is harder.
We must have Humility:
Humility will submit and adapt to others (be submissive [subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect..] 1 Peter 3:1 AMP)
Humility doesn’t have to always be right and doesn’t have to defend itself (..Yet He did not open His mouth to complain or defend Himself.. Isaiah 53:7 AMPC)
Humility doesn’t control others because it trust’s that God is in control and working (God is working all things according to the counsel of his will… Ephesians 1:11)
We must have Wisdom:
Sometimes the best thing to do is avoid foolish people (Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips. Proverbs 14:7)
Don’t try to correct foolish people. They will hate you. (Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you. Proverbs 9: 8)
Foolish people say foolish things. Don’t let their words impact you and don’t give them power over your emotions. (..the mouth of the wicked knows [and therefore speaks only] what is obstinately willful and contrary. Proverbs 10:32)
Don’t argue (If a wise man has an argument with a foolish man, the fool only rages or laughs, and there is no rest. Proverbs 29:9) Matthew Henry has such wisdom on this one - He that fights with a dunghill, whether he be conqueror or conquered, is sure to be defiled. Or translate Matthey Henry into current English – If you fight with a poopy person, whether you win or lose, you’re going to end up with poop on you.
We must Love:
It’s the only thing Christ commands of us (This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you. John 15:12)
Qualities we need to develop are patience, kindness, humility, and the ability to overlook wrongs done to us. (Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. (1 Corinthians 13:4,5)
Day 20 Challenge – Think of a relationship where there is no peace. Ask God to improve the relationship and ask if you need to take a next step or wait until God works in the heart of the other person.
Tomorrow we will look at staying physically attractive as we age – we are going to learn from Abraham’s wife, Sarah, to see what were her beauty secrets.