Peace With All Mankind: Seeing People Through God’s Eyes
“Do all you can to live in peace with everyone.” — Romans 12:18 (NLT)
“Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” — Hebrews 12:14
Navigating Diversity With the Mind of Christ
Every day, we interact with people whose values, beliefs, or behaviours may oppose ours. We’re surrounded by ideological factions—political, racial, religious, sexual—and are often pressured to ‘choose sides.’ So, what mindset should we have to approach our relationship with the world around us?
The Bible expressly tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers and that light and darkness do not fellowship together because we need to maintain the purity of our faith. But we must accept that as long as we are in this world, there will always be people whose views differ from ours and will never look like us. As Christians, how do we walk in love and still uphold our convictions?
But the real question is: which side would Jesus choose?
Jesus’ Perspective: Loving Beyond Agreement
Jesus laid the foundation for peace with all mankind by His words and actions. In Luke 6:32, He asked, ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?’
He commands: Love your enemies. Pray for those who insult you. Bless those who curse you. Why? Because that’s what children of God do (Matthew 5:44-45).
How Jesus Saw People
Jesus wasn’t blind to sin—He was clear-eyed and compassionate. He saw broken people, not broken labels. When He ate with tax collectors and sinners, He didn’t compromise—He offered healing.
He said, ‘It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick’ (Matthew 9:12). We must see like Him: people created by God, wounded by sin, and loved deeply.
Practical Steps to Live in Peace With Others
1. See Beyond Labels – Ask yourself: Who is this person beneath the surface? See them as God’s creation, not their stereotype.
2. Speak the Truth in Love – Avoid self-righteous tones. Express your faith with humility, always inviting others into dialogue, not debate.
3. Respond, Don’t React – When offended, pause and pray. Ask God how He sees that person. Then choose grace over grudge.
4. Practice Redemptive Love – Love is more than acceptance; it’s offering hope. Find small ways to show kindness to those you disagree with.
5. Forgive Quickly – Offense hardens the heart. Keep your spirit tender through forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit to help where it hurts most.
Call to Action
Discussion Prompt: Think of someone who’s hard for you to love. What label do you associate with them? Replace that label with a truth about how God sees them.
Read: Matthew 5 and Luke 6. Highlight every verse where Jesus challenges your perspective on love.
Reflect: Write a prayer asking God to help you become a peacemaker in your sphere of influence.
Fun Fact
Salt not only adds flavour—it preserves. Jesus called us the ‘salt of the earth’ because we are meant to preserve the dignity and worth of people through God’s love.
Memory Verse
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” — Matthew 5:9
- 0 Replies
Sorry, there were no replies found.
Log in to reply.