It All Depends

Romans 12:9-21

Paul had lofty standards for believers, and he shares some of them in our reading from Romans today. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them,” he writes. “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; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:14-17). As far as it depends on us we are to live in peace with all. Paul understands that there will be times when peace is not possible, when conflict will be thrust upon the believer. In such cases there may be no escape from the situation. But as far as it depends on us we are to live in peace with all.

And yet if we have blessed our persecutors, rejoiced with the joyful, wept with the sorrowful, lived in accord and humility, admitted to our own limitations, refrained from “getting even,” and lived with an eye toward what all consider to be noble, haven’t we done just about all that we could do? Clearly it seems like some folks go looking for trouble, and typically they will find it. Paul is offering us a way to go looking for community instead, a lifestyle that lessens the likelihood of conflict in the first place, that turns down the heat for everybody. Tensions will still pop up from time to time and they will need to be dealt with. But as far as it depends on us the climate should be one of love and mutual regard. Perhaps this is what it missing from the political realm and from the interaction between cultures and perspectives. Are we looking for trouble, or are we doing all we can to set a tone of peace and cooperation? As far as it depends on us there should be no reason for hate or violence.

Prayer: Lord, show us the way to live and work as your people so that the world may reflect your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.