Peace and Edification
Most people need more peace in their relationships, and they need to be built up or edified through their relationships. That is why God inspired Paul to give us two commands about these things. (Romans 14:19) It would do us all well to heed God's Word in these two areas of life. Let me explain.
God commands us to "pursue the things which make for peace." When we relate to others, we can be kind and loving, or we can approach people in a way that we do not care if they get hurt or not. When we do anything that leads to a strained relationship with another person, we are not pursuing peace. Yes, some people will take offense or get angry with us, even when we are loving and kind. However, that is their fault, not ours. As for us, we must do all we can to keep a good relationship with everyone.
Also, when we deal with others, it should be our aim to build them up, to make them better people. There are lots of ways to edify another person. It can be done by encouraging them. That is simple enough. Also, we can teach them something they do not know, or they do not know well. This helps them to be a better person. We can even lovingly correct them when they sin, and that is a huge help for them to grow strong in the Lord. However we may do it, we should always build people up and never tear them down.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 15-16 and I Corinthians 1.
God commands us to "pursue the things which make for peace." When we relate to others, we can be kind and loving, or we can approach people in a way that we do not care if they get hurt or not. When we do anything that leads to a strained relationship with another person, we are not pursuing peace. Yes, some people will take offense or get angry with us, even when we are loving and kind. However, that is their fault, not ours. As for us, we must do all we can to keep a good relationship with everyone.
Also, when we deal with others, it should be our aim to build them up, to make them better people. There are lots of ways to edify another person. It can be done by encouraging them. That is simple enough. Also, we can teach them something they do not know, or they do not know well. This helps them to be a better person. We can even lovingly correct them when they sin, and that is a huge help for them to grow strong in the Lord. However we may do it, we should always build people up and never tear them down.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Romans 15-16 and I Corinthians 1.