Peace is one of the most sought after commodities in the world, but it is also elusive. We want peace in every aspect of life and in all areas of our lives. This world would be such a wonderful place if we could have peace within our families, among all people groups, and among all nations.

One thing we have come to understand about peace in our wicked and lost world is that, everyone does desire peace, but peace always comes with a price. The question is this: are you willing to pay the price for peace.

Romans 12:18 presents a very special challenge; it is one that calls on those who want to be peacemakers, to dare to pay the price. It states, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” The context we have here in Romans 12:18 is not about inner peace, but it concerns living at peace with those around us. In fact I dare say it is a direct application of Matthew 22:36-40, where Jesus answers the question about which is the greatest commandment. Jesus replied:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The way the Apostle Paul uses the term here in Romans 12:18, the flavor of a command. He also uses the verb tense to make sure we understand that living peaceably with those around us should be a continued pursuit for the child of God! He does add a caveat though: “if possible…” this implies that sometimes, as much as we try, as much as we invest into it, peace is just not possible. And the reason is simple, peace depends on both parties coming to some sort of agreement; both parties will often have to negotiate some sort of settlement, to make peace possible. But sometimes, all efforts at negotiation fail and peace eludes all parties involved. What we have to keep in mind is that, as children of God, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to leave at peace with everyone around us.

In verses 16-18 of Romans 12, Paul gives us some clarity on what this looks like:

1. V. 16–Live in harmony with one another … We are commanded to live in harmony with one another
2. V. 14– Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them – we have a duty to be forgiving towards others
3. V. 15– Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep – We have the responsibility to empathize with one another
4. V. 17– Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all – We have to obey the ordinance that only God is the Rightful executioner of judgment.

Notice the word “ALL”! ALL means

1. We have the responsibility to do everything we can to live peaceably with those we like and those we don’t like.
2. We have the responsibility to do everything we can to live peaceably with our friends and with our enemies.

Yes, that responsibility even means we ought to make every effort to live peaceably with those who have done things to us or who are actively doing things to us that characterize them as enemies.

But the issue at play here is this: “as far as it depends on you” – In other words, it is expected that you and I will do everything possible to live peaceably with others, even in the toughest human relationship conditions.

Here’s what Jesus had to say about this issue of being a peacemaker. What Jesus said here brings clarity to the matter, while at the same time challenges those who would dare to be peacemaker to be willing to pay the price.

Matthew 5:43-48… 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

This means that you and I ought to imitate the graceful nature of the Lord who shows mercy on even those who actively reject Him – The Lord causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

So, the bottom line here is this: so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all! Here’s why this is an important principle to obey:

It is because in doing so, we honor the Lord and we stand and dare to be different in a culture that promotes self-interest. In doing everything we can to live peaceably with all, we

1. Take a stand and dare to not allow ourselves to be conformed to the patterns of this world
2. We show this world that we are children of the graceful God (Matthew 5:9),
3. We show the world that we have the merciful traits of our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:7)
4. It is another way to submit ourselves under the sovereign hands of the Lord—as Romans 12:19 puts it: vengeance belongs to the Lord; only the Lord has reason to take vengeance and only He knows all the dimension of an issue.

So, you and I have one responsibility: so far as it depends on [us], [we will do everything we can to] live peaceably with all. We strive to do this with both friends and enemies.

I am not naive enough to think neglect the fact that sometimes, people hurt profoundly and we want to strike back and hurt them at least as much as they hurt us, but in an effort to honor the Lord, we must learn to yield to the Lord. This is not an easy thing to do! The bottom line—the only way to break the cycle of evil is to do good.  It is the only way to break the cycle of hate! It is the only way to diffuse the cycle of revenge!

The power of evil is a powerful force and when you’ve been hurt, it is a force that has the power to pull you into some unknow territories.

Be willing to pay the price for peace, whenever possible

The only way to fight the pull towards evil when you have been hurt is to choose to honor the Lord, by doing good. This becomes easier to do when you submit yourself to the leading of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God will give you the power to overcome evil with good!

Is this easy to do? Did you hear me say all of this is easy to do? No! Even Paul qualified this by saying, “if possible”, the idea here is

1. You resolve in your heart that you want to do this—you want to live this way!
2. You submit to the work of the Spirit in your life for Him to make this a reality in your life!

We can all do this!