Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. - Romans 12:18
I’m glad the Bible says to live in peace with everyone “as much as possible.” Sometimes it is not! But I can’t use that as an excuse. Have I really done my part to make it possible? The Scripture does say, “Do your part” or as another translation puts it, “As much as lieth in you.” God depends on me to do my part! Did I confront the person? Did I write a letter, call her on the phone, ask a wise friend to intervene? Once I have done the things that only I can do and honestly can think of nothing else that can be tried, then I can rest, and pray, and wait for God to intervene.
The hardest part is the part that depends on the other person! Sometimes an offended or hostile adversary will reject my overtures and throw my best efforts back in my face. But I must remember that I am responsible only for my attitude—not for his or hers. I must seek to live peaceably with “everyone.” If only Paul had said “most everyone,” or “some people,” or “your friends and other people you like,” or “the people who like you”—but he didn’t. Peace will require all my effort at all times to put it all right with everyone. But don’t forget, Paul does say “as much as possible.” If it is, then God will bring reconciliation. If it is not, he knows—so I can stop blaming myself and rest in the knowledge that I have done my part!
For Further Study: Romans 16:1-9
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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