“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14
This is an essential, imperative, vital, and worthy task for every single follower of Jesus! No exceptions! Strive for peace with everyone. Striving means working hard, with purpose and intentionality, even past the point of exhaustion. The call for Christians is not to be peaceful if everyone agrees with us. It isn’t to get along when nobody’s annoying you. It’s to strive for peace with everyone. Period. You are called to actively, intentionally, sacrificially, prayerfully work to make and keep peace with everyone you possibly can. Not when it’s convenient. Not when it’s comfortable. Not when it’s easy. All the time!
Likewise, strive for holiness. The good news is that in Christ, you are already holy in God’s eyes. The perfect righteousness of Christ is credited to everyone who believes in Him because of His work on the cross. However, as followers of Jesus, we’re then called, commanded, and expected to strive for holiness in our thoughts, words, and actions. We are to actually live as Jesus lived. To actually fight every temptation that comes our way and pursue a holy life of obedience to the commands and example of our Lord. A Christian who isn’t striving for holiness might not actually be a Christian at all, because faith that saves and brings new life also instills a desire for holiness.
What are you striving for in your daily life? What’s getting your energy, attention, strategy, and tactics? Is it peace? Is it holiness? If not, are you sure you’re striving after the right thing(s)??? #FollowJesus