Hebrews 12:14-29
Friday, 09 August 2024
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” -Hebrews 12:14
In today’s reading there is a note of warning against people who are not paying attention to the ways of God. We need to view the above referred verse in light of the persecutions that prevailed during that period of time. Even during such trials, the author is urging believers not to indulge in strife and conflicts between people.
How can one have peace and maintain peace as a believer?
One needs first to have peace with God which is possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Being at peace with God, then leads to peace with others. In Romans 14:19 Apostle Paul in addressing the church, calls for everyone’s effort “to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” If each believer would focus on the teachings given in God’s Word and yield his/her life to doing it diligently, it would lead to a peaceful existence with one another.
On the other hand, if you promote your own passions and prejudices, it only leads to strife, hatred and disunity that disrupts harmonious living. Selfish motives and self-centered living drive us away from people, especially of those we should be considerate about. There are great objectives available for every Christian that we can unite to partake in the kingdom work which leads to peace and joy transforming the lives of people. We have more things to agree than to differ and it results in the edification of people around us.
On examining V.14 closely, we can see that holiness is coupled with the effort of living in peace with one another. A right relationship with God leads to right relationship with fellow believers. As we progress in our Christian life more effort should be made to pursue peace. To pursue means to go after it!
Vs.15 reveals that bitterness leads to defilement and it destroys relationships around us. A person falls prey to a bitter nature when he or she nurses grudges in the heart. It inevitably turns disappointment to resentment and leads to jealousy, dissension and evil nature. Bitter root can only bring forth bitter fruit, the effects of which will cause harm to ourselves and to others. When such things are not attended to and nipped in the bud by the person or those concerned, it disrupts the purity and peace within the church. Therefore one needs to weed out bitterness and jealousy otherwise which it will hurt many.
The author of Hebrews warns such persons (if they don’t repent and turn back), of the consequence which fell on Esau (V.16). Jealousy got the better of him which led to acts of hatred and he was condemned and rejected by God. If we don’t repent and turn back now, God will not repent over the judgment He pronounces; HE is a consuming fire too (V.29).
At the end of time, the world will crumble, and only God’s Kingdom will last forever. Only those who obey the teaching of Christ can withstand the shaking and burning in the end times. V. 28 exhorts us: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…”
Dear reader, will you choose the highway of holiness, peace, fellowship and love through Christ the Saviour? Let us not fall short of the grace of God!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father help me to get rid of the grudges within my mind and to live in peace and harmony with others. Amen.
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