It Begins with Peace

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I am NOT a person who likes conflict, and as such I really crave peace--in my home, at work, and with family and friends. When I find myself in conflict of any kind, I have several go-to verses for my efforts to live in peace. Isaiah 52:7 speaks of our beauty to God when we choose to speak peace: “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (NASB). This verse reminds me that God does not want to hear me grumbling or complaining or gossiping—He would much rather hear me bringing good news and announcing peace and His salvation, which are happy tidings indeed. In addition, I am reminded that I have good cause for celebrating and sharing the gospel—my God reigns. Dwelling on that usually puts things into a proper perspective.
 Paul references Isaiah in Romans 10:15b when he writes, “Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!’” The idea that our feet, which bear the grime gathered from trekking about and often have an odor that is not pleasant, would be lovely and beautiful to God is noteworthy—especially since it is the message those feet bear that make them lovely to God. I like this reference because it states plainly that when we speak we are to bring good news of good things. We simply cannot do that if our focus is on the negative or the conflict that we naturally encounter as we walk through life. Continuing the idea of walking out peace, Ephesians 6:15 commands us to “shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” This reminds me that true peace can only be obtained through Christ, and any other attempt at creating or finding peace will fall short of true peace.
My favorite verse on peace is found in chapter twelve of Romans. Paul puts the onus back on us when he says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Rom. 12:18). We are ultimately responsible for our part in the peace process. If we refuse to engage with those who seek to trouble us, how can our peace truly be disturbed? As most things in life, this is much easier said than done, but if we as Christians do not choose to pursue God’s peace, what would make anyone want to know the God we profess to love? The sharing of the gospel seems then to begin with living at peace with God and man.

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