Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, may the peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. I'm Pastor Loren. Today, we gather to explore a theme deeply rooted in the teachings of the Apostle Paul, a theme that resonates profoundly in our turbulent world: "Living as God's Instruments of Peace."
To guide us on this journey, I invite you to turn to Romans 12:9-21 (ESV):
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
These verses from Romans encapsulate the essence of what it means to be God's instruments of peace in a world filled with discord, hatred, and turmoil. Let us break down some key lessons from this passage.
Genuine Love: The foundation of living as instruments of peace is genuine, selfless love. We are called to love sincerely, to abhor evil, and to cling to goodness.
Bless Those Who Persecute You: It's easy to respond to hostility with hostility. However, the Christian way is to bless those who persecute us, to respond to hatred with love, and to overcome evil with good.
Live in Harmony: Living in harmony with one another is an essential part of our calling. We are to associate with the lowly, not be haughty, and never repay evil with evil. Instead, we should seek peace with all people.
Leave Vengeance to God: Paul reminds us not to seek vengeance but to leave it to God. He is the ultimate judge, and His justice is perfect.
Overcome Evil with Good: Our response to evil should be to overcome it with good deeds and love. This is how we can truly make a difference in the world.
Confession and forgiveness are also integral to this journey of being instruments of peace. We must confess our own faults and seek forgiveness, just as we extend forgiveness to others. This is how we break the cycle of hatred and discord.
Today, I encourage each one of us to reflect on how we can embody these teachings from Romans 12:9-21 in our daily lives. Let us strive to be instruments of God's peace, bringing His love and grace to a world desperately in need of it.
Until our next episode, may the peace of Christ dwell richly in your hearts. Amen.
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