Strive

 Hebrews 12:14 ESV

 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 


Peace doesn't come naturally. We live in a conflicted, wartorn world. We have to strive for peace.

We're not just to strive for peace with Christians, or people we get on with. We're to strive for peace with everyone. 'When a man's ways are pleasing to God, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him'.

Holiness might seem incompatible with peace. We can't make others holy, so there's no point disturbing the peace in an attempt to do so. We can only ultimately work on ourselves.

Thankfully, we can be made holy through faith in the Holy One, his death and resurrection for us. We are to strive to become like him, and not to settle for our shoddy ways. We're not to rest on our laurels.

'Holy God, please help us to be holy, as you are holy. May we also strive for peace with others. For we ask in Jesus' name, amen'.

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