“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14
There’s a saying that I’ve heard used a lot in Christian circles that says, “You may be the only Bible a person will ever read.” The point of the saying is that for people who aren’t Christians, many times the only contact that they will have with God’s word is contact with people who are Christians. The saying is meant to inspire us to both act according to our calling as Christians, but also to freely share the word of God as we know it.
This verse in Hebrews goes right along those same lines. The writer tells us that we must make every effort to live peaceably, and to be holy. Why? Because through these things, people will be able to see Jesus. Not only that, but without them, no one will see the Lord. That may seem like the same thing, but it’s not quite.
Imagine that the majority of the world all called themselves Christians, but didn’t live peaceable or holy lives. It would still be very hard to see the truth of who Jesus really is and what God is all about if people are living that way, no matter how many of them call themselves Christians.
The point is that it is crucial for those of us who know Christ to truly follow him to peaceful and holy lives if we ever want the Kingdom of God to grow, or the gospel of Christ to be heard. If we can’t walk the walk, no one will want to listen to us talk the talk. It is critical that Christians begin living not just with the title of a Christ follower, but also with the behavior of one.
Prayer:
God,
I pray that you will send your Holy Spirit into all of those who believe in you through your Son, Jesus. I pray that your Spirit will empower us to live holy and peaceful lives, and that through us, you will make your great name known.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Add Comment