Live in Harmony

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live in such a way that we look different to the outside world. The way we interact with others matters; it should be like the way Jesus acted toward others. He lived a sacrificial life, always placing other’s needs before His own, and we should too. In Tree Church Kids, we use the scripture Matthew 7:12: Treat others the way you want to be treated. I think this fits perfectly with today’s topic. Let’s begin with a prayer.

Heavenly Father, You are awesome, and we thank You for this day. Help us to see the good in people we encounter throughout our day. Give us wisdom when we need to respond to a situation and point others back to You. Help us to live in peace with all of Your children. Show us how to live as humble people, always reflecting Your Image to others. Amen.  

Romans 12:14-20 (NLT)
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Is this your first response to a situation when you have been wronged? To bless the person who hurt you, and pray for God to bless them?

I know for me, that’s not always the case. Something inside of me wants them to feel what I’ve felt. But that’s not how God wants us to respond. He wants us to pray for them and bring the situation to Him. For one reason, it releases us from holding on to the anger or resentment we may feel toward them. Also, it is really difficult to be upset with someone when you are consistently praying for their betterment! If possible, God always wants us to seek reconciliation with others.

In your daily routine at work or home, do you do things in a way that others see as honorable?

One thing I have learned is that other people are always watching, especially at work. That’s not necessary a bad thing, but it is a responsibility I take seriously. Jesus wants us to work in a way that showcases His love. This means not engaging in gossip, cutting corners to finish early, lying to coworkers, being lazy at our job, or even in the way we speak to others. There is always an opportunity to witness to people, and it may not even be the way we think. The way we work
can often speak louder than anything else we do. People will notice and see that you are different.

Live in peace with everyone. This isn’t just a statement; it is a command. God wants us all to live in a way that shows His love to a hurting world.

We all have different values and opinions that we are passionate about, and that’s what makes us unique. But when my nonbiblical beliefs cause friction with my neighbors, coworkers, family, or friends, this is where we draw the line. Jesus does not want us to argue about money, sport allegiances, political issues, cultural diversity, economics…but to live in harmony with one another.

Let’s start by asking God to help us with all that has been discussed in the devotional today. Take time to bring your thoughts and concerns to God. Begin by asking for His presence, and for His Spirit to reveal His truth. You can use the following prompts to help guide your prayer.

God, soften my heart to hear Your voice. Help me to see the people around me and love them like You do.

God, show me the things in my life that are causing me to have chaos instead of peace.

I pray God’s peace for your life, and that you live in a way that demonstrates God’s love to others. Amen.