December 18, 2019
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.  For,
“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
 They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
New International Version (NIV)
“You always hurt the ones you love . . .”  Do you remember that song?  It’s not actually a Christmas Carol, but family Christmas gatherings can be like that.  We travel long distances to see each other once a year, and before long we may feel like once a year is too often.  It doesn’t have to be that way!

Peter, who had a sword and knew how to use it, surely remembered Jesus’ admonition to put away the sword.  He who had vied with the Sons of Thunder for first place among the disciples has now matured in the Holy Spirit. 

In his call for unity, Peter quotes Psalm 34, one of our favorite Psalms.  He picks up right after the verse where the parents in the house say, “Come my children, listen to me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”  This is what the fear of the Lord looks like: we guard our speech, we turn from evil, do good and we seek peace and pursue it.  In other words, each of us is responsible as far as it depends on us, to live at peace with others.

We should start at home.  Make peace in your own family.  Then you can export it to others.  I know.  Family gatherings can be tough.  Why try?  The Psalmist reminds us that God is watching.  He hears our prayers.  Here is accountability:  if we set our hearts to do evil, God sets his face against our evil efforts.  God is not mocked.  In Christ he has offered us peace.  Let us live in that peace, for our own sake, and for the sake of others.  For God’s sake, let us live at peace this Christmas!
Pray with me:       
Father, thank you for the Prince of Peace who has become our peace, breaking down every barrier of hostility.  Bless your Sons and Daughters who prove they are your children by seeking and making peace with others.  Give us the grace to bring our hearts’ desires into reality.  Let your shalom cover our homes and our lives in this season.  We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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