Seek Peace and Pursue It

 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

— 1 Peter 3:10-12

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16 and reminds us if we love life and want to see good days, here's how. First, I am to keep my tongue from evil and my lips from deceitful speech. James 3:6 explains what happens when I don't control my tongue, "It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire..." We're seeing that in our world today. People being fired from good jobs because they didn't keep their tongue from evil. They gave into the temptation to speak deceitful speech. I can destroy trust and ruin my reputation with just a single sentence, 280 characters, that is spoken thoughtlessly with evil intent.

Second, I am to turn from evil and do good. That seems pretty straightforward. But if I'm honest, while I'm rarely tempted to do evil in its darkest form, I don't turn away from the simplest form of evil: harboring negative attitudes toward others who have hurt me. Wishing harm to come to those who have caused me harm. That's evil and I am to turn from it. I am to do good. Do I do good? Or am I more prone to do nothing? What wins when opportunities to do good are before me—is it action or apathy? If I'm honest, many opportunities to do good are lost to disinterest and pride. Lord, forgive me and help me do good.

Finally, I am to seek peace and pursue it. In a world that is deeply divided and increasingly divisive, I am to be an agent of peace. I am to search for ways to bring peace into my world and I am to run after that which seems so fleeting.

Lord, Your eyes are on me and Your ears hear my prayer. I can trust that You will handle those who do evil. Today, help me guard my tongue, do good, and seek peace.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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