Live at peace
Day 571, Thursday, Mar. 5
Romans 12:9-21
What we read today is down-to-earth practical advice about living the Christian life. The practicality is visible in one of my favorite quotations from this passage: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Paul acknowledges that circumstances don’t always let us live the ideal life we would like to.
Living at peace with everyone is our goal—but some people won’t let us live at peace with them. That doesn’t excuse us from making the effort, though.
Several times Paul makes it clear that we are not to seek revenge or retaliation. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” “Do not repay evil for evil.” “Do not take revenge.”
He also speaks of how the community is to live, telling us to be devoted to each other in love, honor others above ourselves, share with those in need, be hospitable and live in harmony.
One of the most helpful bits of advice in the passage is, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” We can sometimes envy people in their times of happiness. We often want to fix the pain of those who mourn. The most valuable response, though, can be to simply be present and share in their joy or pain.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Thursday meditation

Psalms 89:30-37
“If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—and I will not lie to David—that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.”

Prayer focus
Do not let us be overcome by evil, but let us overcome evil with good.