Focus: Hebrews 12:14 - KJV
14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Revelations 22:1-5
More often than not, interpersonal relationships are brought to halt or thrown into fracas through unnecessary judgments. The one looks at the words or actions of the other and speculatively puts meanings that are not meant to it. As a result, the two are put asunder as the one seeks to put a stumbling block in the way of the other. Even though David had been ordained secretly by the prophet to be the next king in Israel, he did nothing to warrant the suspicion of Saul that led him to believe David was after his throne. Not long after the women sang ascribing a better position to David than the king, all the king sought was to kill David and he refused to fulfil his promise of giving her daughter’s hands in marriage to the killer of the Philistine giant. On the other hand, despite all that Saul did seeking the head of David, when he became vulnerable and in David’s hands for conquest, rather than kill him, David sought his understanding instead, an attribute that made him more endeared unto God than the mentally imbalanced king.
The antidote to laying unnecessary stumbling blocks in the path of our neighbor(s) is to be at peace with everyone. When we do, we are not likely to assume that the one’s actions are aimed at hurting or offending us. When we take on the attribute of David and rather than seek the hurt of those who despitefully use us, if we seek their wellness instead, then is God glorified in our action. If David had gone ahead to kill the king that night, the tendency was for some of his lieutenants to have fought back and there would have been more casualties on the two sides than just the king being killed. And of course, his name would have gone down in history as king killer and destroyer of the Lord’s anointed. In the end, he would have offended God. How then can someone in offence expect to see the Lord? They that will see the Lord shall operate in a place where there is never night and will have unfettered access to the tree of life which was taken away from the reach of man at the time of Adam.
Please do not go on gathering enemies unto yourself. It is not profitable in the end. Yes, you cannot prevent people from envying or hating you, but you can prevent yourself from being the one giving the occasion for such hatred. Only God is omniscient and not you or anyone of us. Putting yourself in the judgment seat to assume you know and can predict precisely what people’s words or actions were aimed to achieve is assuming you know every of their thoughts and you may not be correct. Acting on such assumptions will pitch you against your neighbor whom God directs you to love, and therefore, make you offend God Himself. Rather than judge others therefore, please follow peace with them. Even when they have acted wrongly, take it as the ploy of the enemy to pitch you against your brother and win back your brother with a kiss as you pursue peace with him. This posture is meant to be taken in our activities with all men. Refusal to do so is a sign off on the willingness to see the Lord.
SOLUTION: Please do not begrudge anyone. When there is an offence that should cause a grudge, put aside your hurt and seek to have a discussion with your neighbor to iron out all issues that peace may reign between you two.
Please pray: In the name of Jesus, I receive the grace to pursue peace with all men; I submit my entire being unto the leading of the Holy Spirit, that I may live a holy life and never fail God, in Jesus’ name. By the power of the Most-High God, I shall see the Lord, in Jesus’ name.
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.
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