DCLM Higher Everyday 4 April 2024 — Follow Peace With All Men
Topic: Follow Peace With All Men
Text: Hebrews 12:14-17
14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Key Verse: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Message
These lyrics were written by Don Moen:
Lord, make us instruments of Your peace
there is hatred, let Your love increase
…..Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are Your instruments of peace
Where there is hatred, we will show His love
Where there is injury, we will never judge
Where there is striving, we will speak His peace
To the millions crying for release…
Peace is the absence of conflict, tension, and presence of harmony. We are advised in this text to strive for peace and holiness in our relationships with others, as well as to avoid behaviours that may lead to sin and rejection by God. Choosing the path of peace and maintaining good relationships with others bring us to holiness and God’s presence. The path of conflict and disagreement fosters bitterness in our hearts, damaging our relationships with others and with God. Jesus declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God,” and “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” (Matthew 5:9, 8).
Quote: Strive for peace and holiness
Challenge: Foster peace wherever you can and desire holiness.
Prayer for today: Dear Lord, make me holy and Your instrument of peace. Amen
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
