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Peace with God

Jesus is amazing. He gives us tools like none other. The power of peace is inexhaustible. His suggestion to us is to use His peace as a guide to what is good for us.

Greet others in peace. If it stays with us, all is well. If it leaves, we should do the same.

God’s goal for us, in Jesus, is to have peace. It is our right and privilege as a child of God.

Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.[1]

 (Luke 10:5-6)

  • Have you ever wondered how to spread peace in a world full of conflict and violence?
  • How to be a peacemaker in your family, your neighborhood, your workplace, or your church?
  • How to show God’s love and grace to those who are hurting, angry, or lost?

One way to do that is to follow the example of Jesus and his disciples. In Luke 10:5-6, we read that Jesus sent out seventy-two of his followers to different towns and villages, and he gave them this instruction: “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.”

What does this mean? It means that we are called to bless others with our words and our presence. We are called to speak peace over every situation and every person we meet. We are called to pray for God’s peace to fill every heart and every home. We are called to be agents of reconciliation and harmony, not division and strife.

But how do we know if someone is a son of peace or not? How do we know if they are open to receive our message or not? The answer is simple: we do not. We cannot judge anyone by their appearance, their behavior, their beliefs, or their background. We can only offer them peace and see how they respond. If they welcome us and listen to us, then our peace will rest upon them. If they reject us and oppose us, then our peace will return to us.

But either way, we are not responsible for the outcome. We are only responsible for being faithful and obedient to God’s call. We are only responsible for sharing peace with others, not forcing it on them. We are only responsible for planting seeds of peace, not harvesting them.

So let us go out today and every day with this attitude of peace. Let us greet everyone we meet with a smile and a blessing. Let us pray for God’s peace to reign in every place and every person. Let us be peacemakers in a world that desperately needs it. And let us trust that God will use our words and our actions for his glory and his purposes.

Peace be to you!

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 10:5–6.