Follow After Peace Romans 14:19

As he referred to “righteousness, peace and joy”, Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men”, and in chapter fourteen and verse nineteen of Romans, Paul tells the believers to, “follow after the things which make for peace” where we read:

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,

and things wherewith one may edify another.

The verse begins, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, ...” Paul began with the words, “let us” which means “allow and permit Paul, his companions and his believing readers” “therefore” or “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “follow after” which means “run swiftly to or press toward” “the things which make for” which means “that which pertains to” “peace” or “tranquility, exemption from rage and havoc, harmony and concord”. Paul exhorted his believing readers to “run swiftly to and press toward” “peace”.

The verse continues, “... and things wherewith one may edify another.” Paul added the words, “and things wherewith” which means “and that which pertains toward what” “one may edify” which means “build up and promote growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness and holiness toward” “another” or “other people whether male or female”. In addition to “peace”, Paul instructed his believing readers to pursue ways to “build up” each other.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how “peace” and “edifying one another” are to be pursued with people who have received Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Rather than disputing with one another over temporary personal convictions such as what to eat or not to eat and what to drink or not to drink, there is to be “peace” among fellow believers. Jesus Christ is known as “the Prince of Peace”, and He desires to “build up” believers in the faith. When this is accomplished, not only shall believers relate to one another “peaceably”, but the world shall know them by their love.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “all things indeed are pure”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.