Overcoming StrifeSample

Day 3: Put an End to Strife

Hebrews 12:14-15 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”

The writer of Hebrews is telling us we have to make the decision to put the conflict away and begin a time of rebuilding. A cessation of war is a choice, and he informs us that we have to “follow peace” in order to obtain it.

People in the world can slug it out, physically or verbally, but as believers, we are called instead to a higher standard — holiness. No matter what everybody else is doing, God has asked us not to behave like them — to be separate, to be different, to follow after peace, to be holy.

Hebrews 12:14 concludes, “without which [holiness] no man shall see the Lord.” This begs the question: Does this mean that if you have bitterness or lack of peace in your heart, you’re not going to go to heaven? No, it doesn’t mean that. There are a lot of people who die with bitterness, but they go to heaven.

When the Bible says, “without which no man shall see the Lord,” the actual Greek words mean will not be admitted into the immediate presence of the Lord. In other words, strife is a blocker. If you have strife working in your heart, you can be in a church service where everyone else is experiencing the presence of God, but you’ll feel nothing. That strife blocks you from the anointing and presence of the Lord.

To be strife-free and committed to a peace-filled life, you have to make a choice. God has called you to be the caretaker of your own heart, so you cannot blame anyone else for what’s going on, even if someone else did something wrong to you. You are the only one that has the authority to say “yes” or “no” to strife and offense in your heart. It is your heart, and what goes on in it is your business and responsibility to correct, and this verse says to take that seriously — to “look diligently” and oversee your heart.

Sometimes, you may be in a truly difficult relationship, but if you faithfully seek God, He will give you the grace you need. However, if you then back up and say, “I’m not willing to do that,” the grace that came to help you in your moment of need will become ineffective.

That’s why we’re told by the apostle Paul not to frustrate the grace of God (see also Galatians 2:21). God will come to you with grace and empower you to do what you need to do, but if you deny or frustrate that grace, it will be in vain, ineffective. If you are not diligent to embrace and apply it, that grace cannot accomplish the magnificent change it was sent to bring in your situation.

Accept the grace of God that will empower you to follow after peace with all men. If you’ll take the initiative to follow after peace, you can close every door to the devil, denying him access to your life. You can overcome strife and experience the glorious presence of God and be free indeed!

For Your Consideration:

• We are commanded to follow peace and holiness. Describe what that pursuit might look like.
• Think of a situation where you are battling strife right now. Has God already given you the grace for that situation? If so, how can you apply it instead of frustrating or denying it?