Disagreements are unsettling, but intense division shreds our soul. None of us remains whole when we are at odds with one another.
And if we really think about it, it makes sense because Christians are people of peace.
We are not at our best nor where we ought to be when conflict exists in our lives.
Genesis 1:27 and several other verses in Scripture confirm all humankind is created in God’s own image.
And Scripture also describes our God — the One we worship and serve, the One in Whose image we were created — as a God of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
2 Corinthians 13:11 reads, “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:9 states, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all.”
And one we all know well from the Christmas productions each year, at least the first part anyway, comes from Isaiah 9:6–7:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
And along with loving, worshiping and serving a God of peace, we also are called to be His witnesses by our individual demonstrations of peace, love and several other traits of a believer as outlined in Galatians 5:22–23:
“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.”
John 13:35 reminds us that “by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
So is it any wonder our hearts are hurting and our anxiety is high right now?
We may not know what to do and, while we know there’s serious work that needs to be done, it may be tempting to just want it all to go away rather than doing the hard work to truly make a difference.
We are people of peace, so it makes sense to slow down and listen to each other. We must seek to understand as much as to be understood. And we must turn our eyes upon Jesus and “look full into His wonderful face.”
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