Ezekiel 31-32 / Hebrews 12:14-29 / Psalm 113-114 / Proverbs 27:18-20
Having relationships with others and choosing to be in community takes work. Sometimes when a relationship or friendship is new, everyone is on her or his best behavior and everything is peachy. But then the trials come, or the hidden hurts in another’s soul show up. That’s where the trouble can begin if we’re unaware of how to walk with ourselves and others through the wounds of the past.
We of our soul have been wounded in the past. Yes, many of us have worked hard to heal the wounds and we’ve moved past many injustices and abuses, but there will likely always be at least one more wound we have forgotten, buried, or that we were not aware of carrying. That’s when we must have grace for ourselves and those we love. The warts are going to come out.
Hebrews 12:14-15, in The Passion Translation, (TPT) offers some hard-hitting instructions to help us navigate relationships: “In every relationship be swift to choose peace over competition, and run swiftly toward holiness, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s grace. And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.”
Let’s work through these two verses phrase by phrase for a better understanding. What does it mean to, “Be swift to choose peace over competition?” We should always turn our backs on sin, especially when it involves the way we treat others. We are not in competition with one another. What does the word peace mean?
Peace is the Hebrew word shalom. This word means much more than peace. It means: “Wholeness, wellness, well-being, safe, happy, friendly, favor, completeness, to make peace, peace offering, secure, to prosper, to be victorious, to be content, tranquil, quiet, and restful.” So, shalom is used to describe those of us who have been provided all that is needed to be whole and complete and break off all authority that would attempt to bind us to chaos.
Some followers of Christ work to be at peace with all others, and some are unaware of how to accomplish this. It does take work to be in right-relationship with each other, as stated above. But the rewards of that work are well worth the effort!
What does it mean to, “Run swiftly toward holiness?” This is a personal charge because we cannot run for someone else. When we run toward holiness, we are running toward consecration, purification, and sanctification. Let me define these three big words. Consecration: “The devoting or setting apart of anything to the worship or service of God.” (From the Bible Dictionary)Purification: “To free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish.” (From the Merriam Webster Dictionary) Sanctification: “To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer.” (From the Bible Dictionary)
The last thing I want to talk about is the “Root of bitterness.” The Free Dictionary defines bitterness as, “Anger and disap-pointment at being treated unfairly, resentment.” We are to guard our own hearts against bitterness through forgiveness and grace. How might we guard others against bitterness? I believe Holy Spirit will show us if there is a problem that we could help remedy by conversation and asking forgiveness. If you’ve caused a breach in the relationship; never be hesitant to communicate and make things right with another.
We must always remember that we don’t live in a vacuum. All that we do affects us as well as those around us. Our choices and behavior will certainly produce either life or death in us, however, our choices and behavior can produce the same results in others. Therefore, we should live in a way that considers others and not just ourselves.
