Romans 12:17-19

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath

Romans 12:1-2 starts by reminding us that the Christian mind should be a transformed mind. One that instead of being conformed to the world around us is molded and renewed by our relationship of love with God. Then we see how this transformed mind affects the way we think about ourselves: soberly, not too low and not high and mighty. Followed by how the transformed mind will think about and treat other people. We live in a world that seems to always be at war with someone, we are people that have become captivated by conflict. There is an intrigue to fighting, early on we learn to view fighting as interesting and entertaining. Many of today’s popular movies portray fights and wars, where we cheer over conflict because we love to see people duke it out. We have become so intrigued with the story of struggle that we are no longer content with fictional fights. Many waste their day watching as day time talk shows parade people in front of them who are on the edge of conflict. Why do they do this, because they know that their audience secretly yearns for a violent confrontation. But this desire for war and conflict is nothing new, the world may have gotten older, but humanity has not grown up. Technology may have advanced but it has not transformed our sin nature.  Conflict and control was common place in the Roman world that Paul lived in and when you consider this call to peace you realize just how radical a call this is. A recent movie called “Gladiator” depicts not only the Roman desire and drive for conflict but also ours. The movie centered on conflict, depicts a gladiator in Roman times who is forced to fight in an arena for the amusement of others. After he has finished fighting against unrealistic odds he gives us the line that echoes through the hollow core of our empty hearts “Are you not entertained?” Today many have become callused to conflict, and just like the citizens of Rome we too have bought into the belief that it’s just entertainment. But a transformed mind turns from the madness to the Master; it cheers for His Will not the worlds. Ever since sin entered the world there has been the potential for war. It was Cain’s conflict that caused the death of his brother, and when we fail to do right in God’s eyes we unleash a plethora of evil possibilities. Yet contrasting this conflict is Christ the peacemaker who said if someone slaps you on the cheek give them another chance to do it again. He was a man who was powerful yet constantly promoted peace. Even when they came to arrest Him in the garden and the disciples exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” and Peter drew a sword and started slicing off the guard’s ear it was Jesus who picked it up and put it back on, Luke 22:49. Instead of hurting Jesus healed and then turning to Peter He said Matthew 26:52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword” His disciples came armed, they were prepared for a fight why, because they thought that that was the way to win. They were willing to kill to protect the Prince of peace, but what they failed to realize was that their way would only lead to death. Many in their marriages are showing up armed ready to reduce the one they say they love, instead of winning we are wounding. You may win the battle but you will lose the war.  Romans 12:17-19 echoes Christ’s teaching, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” When it comes to peace Paul points out a powerful truth “as Far as it depends on you.” This text is not just making a statement it’s forcing us to asking a question, when are we going to start accepting responsibility for the condition of our circumstances? God is saying I know you don’t think it’s your fault, I know you think it’s not fair but I’m calling you to take responsibility, so what are you going to do? As kids we learned the phrase early “I didn’t do it” unfortunately many of us have never grown out of that.  Someone burns themselves with hot coffee but rather than taking responsibility they blame and sue the restaurant. Today we are plagued with the rejection of responsibility but the process of living at peace demands that you take responsibility. The bad news is that there will always be fights wars and conflicts but you don’t have to resign yourself or be reactive you can be proactive.  But being proactive and participating in the process of peace means that we have to hear God and act on his questions. Are you denying responsibility for your life? God knows what you have been through, He knows that you had it rough growing up and that your road has been rocky, but you can’t deny responsibility. How are you going to get honest with God and give him your burdens when you won’t even get real about what those burdens are? You need to accept responsibility for your life and your choices. Are there any areas where you are not owning your choices and owning up to your life? God is first asking us, “Have you accepted responsibility?” But second he is also asking, “Do you believe that peace depends on You?” We are masters at moaning about the problem but do we participate in the process of peace? We will never be desperate for peace until we see how it depends on us.  This is not what is everyone else going to do but what am I called to do? You are crucial to resolving conflict, and you need to ask yourself are you doing what you can to live at peace with those around you? There may be an extent to which you can do nothing to live peacefully but you need to exhaust every opportunity to defuse the situation. The sad truth is that in general the followers of Jesus don’t have a reliable reputation for being the most peaceful people in the world. This is incredibly ironic considering that the One we are following was the greatest peacemaker. Following Jesus peaceful example means forgiving, it is probably one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life. Forgiving is not forgetting it is choosing to remember no more, forgiveness takes its focus off of the fault and puts it on the Father. Isn’t it funny how we all feel so strongly that others should forgive us, but we often forgo forgiving them? If we are doing our best to live at peace with all people, we must learn to treat people properly. Throughout the ages self-professed Christians had committed horrific acts of violence and carried on wars in the name of the peacemaker. Today we may not be participating in the crusades but our cynicism, complaining and bitterness is being broadcasted load and clear. Living at peace means putting aside anything that keeps people from coming into the presence of Christ. There may be times when someone will not live at peace with you but the command says “as long as it depends on you” How often do your fights depend on you, more often than many are willing to admit. Lastly we are reminded to let God fight our battles, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath”. When you are wronged God can do a much better job of taking care of the conviction and consequences than you. What if we put as much effort into promoting peace as we did pondering and planning the paybacks? We are quick to repay and resent but what if we were quick to reconciliation. People will wrong you but how you respond will reveal whether you are going to be mature or just mad. If you really want to help God out then let Him do His job and stick to what He said you should do. Are you living in the prison of trying to make people pay or are you promoting peace? Are you going to repent or resent? Are you going to justifying your angry attitude and actions or adopt Jesus heart of healing? What will define your life murder or mercy?

Philippians 4:4-9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

In verse five Paul reminds us that the Lord is near, God’s presence should alter how we look at peace. It should also change how we handle conflict with others as well as conflicts residual internal turmoil. As conflict and inner turmoil rob us of energy we begin to lose focus leading to bad judgment as well as added stress. We become afflicted with anxiety, which rarely stays self-contained, but bleeds out infecting and inflicting our relationships. We have already discovered that prayer is the first key to experiencing peace and the second is:

This second key to acquiring divine peace is found in verse 6. Paul says that we are to submit our requests along “with thanksgiving.” The problem with worry and fear is that because it becomes our focus we often fail to count our blessings. We fail to see or acknowledge how good our God has already been to us. There is a stanza in the great hymn Amazing Grace that reminds us of His faithfulness: “Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come. Tis grace that has brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.” When was the last time that you reflected upon how God has faithfully brought you down the path of your past and to the present? When was the last time you thanked Him for His past care? What are the many dangers, toils and snares that He has delivered you from? What if right now you stopped to reflect and recount how your faithful Father has lovingly led you thus far?  But, don’t stop at thanking God for His past provisions, blessings and deliverance. We need to thank Him for our present blessings as well as our past ones. When we intentionally celebrate in the Lord, we invite his presence and comfort into our lives. No matter how distressing or difficult our current circumstances or situation, we have a Savior that will never leave us or forsake us. You see despite the difficulties we can still experience His Divine blessings because no matter the problems we still experience His presence.  Johnson Oatman, Jr. dreamed of being either a great preacher or a great singer like his father but God gave him a different talent, writing songs. It was through his sermon in song that he reached millions of people that he would never have reached from a pulpit. He wrote an average of over two hundred gospel songs and hymns a year for over twenty-five years. His total output reached past the five thousand mark and when publishers insisted, for business reasons, that he set a price for each hymn, Oatman stipulated his own terms, he would only accept one dollar per hymn. In 1897 he wrote one of his most famous hymns, ”Count Your Blessings.” I want you to take some time to read through the words he pended over a hundred years ago and reflect on the reality that just as Oatman discovered God’s divine grace even in difficulties so can we. Oatman put to song what Paul penned to the Philippians in verse six:

When upon life’s billows

You are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged

Thinking all is lost

Count your many blessings

Name them one by one

And it will surprise you

What the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened

With a load of care

Does the cross seem heavy

You are called to bear

Count your many blessings

Every doubt will fly

And you will be singing

As the days go by.

So, amid the conflict

Whether great or small

Do not be discouraged

God is over all

Count your many blessings

Angels will attend

Help and comfort give you

To your journey’s end

The third key to peace is:

• Pondering the Positive.

The third key to peace of mind is partially connected to the second in that it also revolves around our thinking. We need to think about and dwell on the positive, Paul commands us, in verse 8, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” Pondering the positive is probably one of the least preached and least practiced aspects of the Christian faith.  How often do we fail to focus on the positive, and instead allow our minds to dwell on the negatives? Many of us are masters at seeing our glass as half empty rather than half full. Yet as believers we should be able to see a silver lining in even the darkest cloud. When we remember that God is with us, for us and working in our lives, we should be the most optimistic and positive people on the planet. Paul reminds us to place our focus on what is true instead of the lies, noble instead of what is unjust, right instead of wrong, lovely instead of the horrible, admirable instead of the bad, pure instead of the counterfeits and fakes, and praiseworthy instead of the problems. When we place our focus on these things they will penetrate our problems, influencing and impacting our perspective. The fourth key to peace is:

• Obedience

The last key to experiencing and enjoying peace of mind is striving to obey the teachings of Christ. Paul says, in verse 9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Obedience leads to peace because one, if we obey God’s Word, we will avoid many of the pitfalls in life that lead to unnecessary heartaches and headaches. Psalms 119:165 reminds us of this truth: “Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” As well as Proverbs 3:1-2: “Do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;….peace they will add to you.” Second there is a peace that comes when you know in your heart and mind that you are doing all that you can to please God. Paul reminds us in Acts 24:16: “I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” With obedience comes a clear and clean conscience which promotes peace of mind. Lastly, Christ’s teachings call us to take up our cross deny ourselves and follow Him. We are called to look beyond self and serve others. The more I take my focus off of me, my predicaments and problems and place them on others and how I can make their lives lighter the more my life is liberated. Paul calls us not just to listen to the preaching but to put it into practice. So in what ways do you need to “Bear others burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2. What is dominating your thoughts, is it thankfulness, are you pondering the praiseworthy and the pure or are you pouring over the negative? Are you being obedient to the One who called you to live and walk in peace even in the problems?