Look for peace and work for it. (Psalm 34:14 - NCV)Jesus said, Blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Both of these passages teach us that, as God's children (those who would carry on the family business, so to speak), we have a responsibility to actively pursue peace. Peace never comes by following the path of least resistance.
Active pursuit. There's a big difference between not making a problem worse and working to make it better. It's not enough that we not escalate conflict, we must advocate for peace. We cannot assume the neutral role of spectator; we must be agents of reconciliation.
The antithesis of this peacemaker ethic is hiding behind my right to not get involved. That's what the priest and the Levite did when they happened upon a crime victim in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35). The Samaritan, on the other hand, simply got involved and did what he could to heal the ravages of violence. He didn't end a war or free a nation; he just reached out, bringing peace to another human being.
Where would God have you get involved in the pursuit of peace?
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