“The good neighbor looks beyond
the external accidents and discerns
those inner qualities that
make all men human and,
therefore, brothers.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
You will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes upon you
and you will be my witnesses,
telling people about me everywhere.
Acts 1:8 NLT
When we open the book of Acts, we hear Jesus promise to send the Holy Spirit to empower the early disciples as they go to all nations to share the good news of Jesus. In addition, we see the Holy Spirit at work to break down every barrier — geographical, cultural, racial, economic, political, and social — to make the people who come to Jesus into one new people.
Make every effort
to keep yourselves united
in the Spirit,
binding yourselves
together with peace.
Ephesians 4:3 NLT
As Paul reflects on the great grace of God he has talked about in Ephesians chapters 1-3, he now challenges Jesus’ followers to make every effort to keep what the Holy Spirit and the grace of God had worked to create: a people united by the Holy Spirit and held together with the bond of peace. He wanted them to “wage peace”! He wanted them to be peace-makers, and not just “peace-wanters.” This can happen only when we allow the Spirit to control our hearts and we earnestly and diligently strive to be united through the Spirit as God’s children.
Father,
The prayer for peace must
begin with each individual heart.
Please forgive me.
I’ve been selfish, impatient, and harsh
to some of your children.
I haven’t been committed to “waging peace”
with the same passion as I have sought to
get my own way and protect my own position.
Please help me as I try to mend relationships
and re-establish fellowship with others
that I’ve alienated. Please help me
as I seek to have your Spirit take
control of my heart and exert more effort
to live in peace with your children.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Ken Crawford 