There are times when I’m reading scripture and a particular phrase or word will jump out to me. I have learned over the years that when that happens, God is inviting me to spend time with that word or phrase. It was during worship while reading the scripture for the congregation that I had one of those experiences.
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice 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 conceited. Repay no one evil for evil but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. – Romans 12:9-18
The phrase that spoke so powerfully was verse 18, If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. It didn’t take long before the message of that verse convicted my heart. How many times have I taken responsibility for a conversation that didn’t go well? How many times was it more important for me to be right than to consider the possibility that perhaps the other person was right? How many times did I sit quietly while observing an argument and not offer a word of grace? If I had only understood peace was dependent on me and to speak differently, it could have turned out better. While I love how God speaks to us through scripture, sometimes it can be a hard message to hear.
When I place this in the context of our Lenten theme “Love Wins”, I realize that for love to win in my day-to-day situations and encounters, I need to understand just how much “depends” upon me to live peaceably with all. When I think of Jesus and the last few days of His life, He certainly embodied this message. His witness of living “peaceably with all” – even amid persecution and crucifixion – gives us a beautiful example to model. Will it be easy? No, no, no, but if “living peaceably with all” depends upon me and depends upon you, let’s do our best to model how Jesus loved and lived peaceably with all. For, in the end, that’s when “Love Wins.”
Rev. Linda Harker, Online Campus Pastor
