Make EVERY Effort...

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Conflicts arise in our lives due to many different reasons. Whether it is due to selfishness and pride, let down expectations, or even just a different way of doing things, disagreements are a fact of life in this world of brokenness. Too often, our stubbornness or bitterness will come between us and the ones we love. 

This verse from Hebrews points to a different approach to living at peace with those around you: Be holy. This command is first given in Leviticus:

For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Leviticus 11:45

As Christians, we are called to be holy, because our God is holy. Our earthly perspective tells us to focus on the temporary, leading to selfishness, stubbornness, and bitterness. When we take a step back, and focus on living at peace with everyone, having the goal of being holy, our attitude towards disagreements change drastically. 

Instead of responding with frustration, we instead focus on how we can honor God and others in the midst of conflict. Our fleshly desire to "win the argument" or "be right" fades into the background as we make every effort to live at peace and be holy.